Blogging weekend Part 4 London! The final chapter.

I was thinking of the times I've been to London in my life.

The first time I was 14 at school and we had a trip to the Natural History museum. On a coach, off a coach, Museum, on a coach off a coach. Didnt see much of London really.

The second time was then I was student at college age 16  We went for the weekend to a hair conference. Yes we did get some free time, I vaguely remember Soho and Harrods but that was it.

The third time was to see a show, another on coach off coach experience.

The fourth time was with college again but as a teacher going to the same conference. But didnt get any free time as we had students that year that needed watching!

Fifth time lucky! And with a very competent chaperone.

After the first day of Brit Mums Live was over myself and Sarah went back to the hotel to freshen up then we went to Piccolinos off Regent Street. How beautiful was Regent Street. I stared and stared at the sweeping buildings while Sarah, who visits London often, laughed at my amazement.

Sarah is in the corner of the photo thinking 'what is she doing? '

Next stop. Piccolinos!

I love when you can see the chefs cooking!

The starters. Sooo tasty!

Sirlion steak and house chips with a tomato salad. The steak melted like butter in my mouth.

After the meal Sarah took me on a whistle stop tour round London.

Covent Garden

I felt like Eliza Doolittle and very nearly burst into song but I thhink would have killed me. I was so excited to see the areas where some of my favourite childhood films had been made. And i'd do anything ( get it) to have spent some more time there.

We stopped of at Sarahs favourite London pub 'the Punch and Judy. 

I really enjoyed it there, sat outside taking it all in. We chatted for ages and really got to know each other as more than work friends. I will not forget that night for a long time.

Last stop was Leicester Square. Its actually a square! Sarah was in stitches at this. But Piccadilly circus isn't a circus is it? 

As a child my favourite board game was monopoly and this weekend I have done the yellow and green properites. I had no idea they were near to each other in real life. You can tell I dont get out of Lancashire very much...

As the evening ended, we got a taxi back to the hotel. We chatted to a real cockney taxi driver who loved telling us the famous people he had, had in the back of his taxi.

Noel Gallager, Allan Sugar, Keith Richards to name a few. I rubbed my bottom on the seat as if to rub off some of the DNA, I just wanted to soak it all in like a sponge.

Back at the hotel we had a nightcap then chatted for ages in our beds about the weekend until eventually falling asleep.

I not only had a fabulous time at Brit Mums live but I loved seeing the sights of London just as much.

I would like to say a big THANK YOU to Sarah for making the weekend so special and putting up with my ooooo's and ahhhh's, tree hugging teaching me escalator equitique and for generally being my carer haha. The weekend wouldnt have been the same without you xx

Blogging weekend part 3 Brit Mums Live!

So now for the reason we came to London. Brit Mums Live 2014.

I had no idea what to expect at all so I kept a very open mind.

The hotel we stayed in was only about a five minute walk from the venue ' The Brewery' and I took great delight in soaking in the wonderful buildings, people, and park areas.

Coming from a very rural area, open countryside a thirty second walk away, it came to me that the only 'green' areas were these park areas. I tried to walk a bit slower past these to envelop them more.

 I do love trees and couldnt ever stand to live somewhere with none, so when I came across a fantastic old tree, it must have been hundreds of years old, I couldnt resist giving it a hug. Much to Sarahs embarrassment! 

What changes has that tree known over the decades. I wonder.

Soon we were at the Brewery and greeted by a lovely man in a suit and bowler hat, very Londony I thought.

We signed in and recieved our badges and programmes and the day began.

Lots of lovely trades stands offering a variety of different things from holidays abroad to Ovens from juicers to wine. 

Tea, coffee, water, wine,  pastries, cake, muffins were on offer ...thats my diet gone this weekend... All FREE yes free amazing, I totally expected to be paying over the odds for a limp packaged sandwich but no even in the fantastic Morrisons room they tempted your tastebuds with mouthwatering delights. Garlic bread, meat pies, samosas, chorizo nibbles, tarts, cake,  biscuits and pineapple slices. Of course myself and Sarah kept to the pineapples and must have eaten three each over the two days.

The first keynote speech was by Emma Freud and she was very motivational and inspiring. She talked about her charity work and gave tips on how to get what you want. I will be trying some of those...

The programme catered everyones tastes whether you were a new blogger or managed to blog for your living. Everyone was friendly and chatty and the whole building was filled with a positivity I havent felt in a long while, too long really. 

We went to every possible presentation and talk possible and learned lots of things about blogging. 

Next was wine and canapes in the courtyard. 

They had even dressed it up for the occassion .

Here's Sarah looking less stressed than I have seen her in a long while.

Besides the talks there was lots of sillyness to be had in the form of having your photos taken to win a competition. 

I think myself and Sarah stand a good chance with this one.

Along with the laughs from some very comical bloggers, there was plenty of tears listining to the heart breaking stories from other bloggers about the things that they had gone through. I don't think I have laughed then cried, laughed then cried so much in one weekend.

To sum up Brits Mums Live.

Well worth the money.

Extremely well organised...Thats mums for you!

Venue perfect.

People the height of positivity.

Food amazing.

Presentations very informative

Can't wait for next year!

Did you go? What did you think? 

Please leave a comment.

Lisa xx

Blogging weekend part one!

Getting to Manchester.

Up early all excited to go to Brit Mums Live in London with my friend and fellow blogger, Sarah.

Kevin dropped me off at her house and we set off to Manchester. 

Neither myself or Sarah are good driving in city centres and just as Sarah told me how good I was at navigating I took her to what I thought as the station car park but no it was the wrong way up a one way street! 

Well I didn't see the no entry sign but the police van behind us did. Still not realising I got out of the car to ask the nice policeman which way to the station car park? Then spent the next few minutes apologising and pleading with him not to give me a ticket. 

Phew he let us off with a warning and we finally managed to get on the train. 

Next stop London! 

Lisa xx

Excited!

Case nearly packed!

Tickets and directions in bag.

Off to Brit mums live in London tomorrow with my friend from work.

A bit nervous but very excited!

Lisa xx