London, a city brimming with history, culture, and diverse experiences, offers a plethora of options for families seeking an unforgettable vacation. The question of "Where to stay in London with family?" is crucial for ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable trip. In this guide, we'll explore the top family-friendly neighborhoods, highlight attractions suitable for all ages, and provide insights into finding accommodations that cater to your family's needs…
It’s that time of year when we at ZMG HQ ask four of our favourite people what Valentine’s Day means to them. As those people were busy, we decided to ask Laura @BoyEquation, Jane @HodgePodgeDays, Mark @sonnyandluca and Pauline @Pols80 the question instead. I’m joking of course, because I’m so pleased, proud and honoured that Laura, Jane, Mark and Pauline have taken the time to write for us. Thanks to all of them, and please check them out on Twitter if you don’t already. They’re funny, feisty, forthright and first-rate writers and people. If they don’t make you laugh they’ll certainly make you…
You’ve probably heard the news this morning, or read it on MSN or something – Toast, chips, crisps and roasties are among the food group which apparently all cause cancer. At least, they definitely do in animals, and it is therefore very likely that Acrylamide (a chemical compound released by cooking starchy foods above 120c) is a “probable human carcinogen” too, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Great. Some new all-time favourites to add to the ‘banned’ or ‘must be limited list’. This list is getting longer by the month, let me tell you. “OH FOR GODS SAKE!” Yells my genuinely hacked-off 13 year old…
I’ve been thinking about my gran a lot recently. More than normal perhaps. Weird how you can miss someone who’s been dead for almost 20 years. My gran told me this story when I was growing up and, although I’ve told it before, she’s been on my mind, so indulge me. Besides it’s a good story. My gran and grandfather were both Irish, and while neither were educated and booksmart, both were bright people. This story isn’t an ‘Irish’ joke before you get all ‘right on’ on me. This actually happened. And yes, they really were both called Molly…
When you become a parent you become chopped liver, redundant, pointless. You no longer mean anything… …to your own parents. Let me explain. Or let me put something to you. If you’re lucky enough to have parents that are alive, and you have kids, ask your mum or dad this question: If me and the kids were in a burning building, and you could only rescue the kids or me, who would it be? In essence, in a nutshell, in brief, in outline, to sum up… I put it to you that their answer would be, “the children”. Regretfully, you’re…
Guest post: January Carmalt examines how mums can leap back into the workforce with confidence after the school-run sabbatical. Gap years. What do we think of them? No, no—think less setting sail to artificially inseminate indigenous blue-footed boobies of the Galapagos– more pram-pushing, nappy changing, food pureeing and later– forging ever more inventive means to entertain restless children during rain-soaked school holidays. Cast aside self-indulgent naval gazing and imagine instead those career-sacrificing years spent at Tumble Tots, play dates and bake sales. Ah yes, those gap years. These past decades women have made pioneering strides combining families with…
News reached us this week that almost 1 in 5 couples are close to splitting up, according to research carried out by the relationship charity Relate. We at ZmG HQ are no strangers to heartbreak and heartache, so we’ve compiled a handy (but highly scientific and utterly accurate) quiz to help you decide if your relationship is on the rocks. Devised in association with renowned relationship experts, this quiz should help you work out whether it’s time to move in or move on, love them or leave them, get hitched or bury them in a ditch. That last one sounded a…
On Friday my partner left for work as usual, and my stepdaughters and I had breakfast, as usual. My eldest step daughter was stating how she had a Big Write to finish at school; a treatise on how she should be the leader of the Anglo-Saxon tribe and not Ethelred The Ready, her opposition for the position. I suspect it was to encourage persuasive argument, tied up with a bit of history. All good stuff. She’s 10. I’ll always be supportive and advise with schoolwork. So I decided to support, and advise. “Back in the day,” I began, “the question…
We have been invited to a wedding do. Just the evening, but it’s a lovely thought from a cousin I don’t see very often. My mum is one of 5 and her mum was one of 6. She spent about 5 years of her childhood in the same city as this batch of cousins and stayed close to some of them. So when I was a child I grew up with them and their offspring in my life. These are the people who will be at the wedding do. They are lovely, loving, warm and funny people and it will…
I can’t help it, I have to write a post about breastfeeding after the utter outcry exhibited by disgruntled women up and down the land … Not that I am right about everything. But after breastfeeding 4 babies, twice successfully, and twice unsuccessfully, I definitely feel I have earned an opinion on the matter, for what its worth. First of all, Breast is best. Suck it up sisters! … must we pretend this isn’t the case? really? are we all that sensitive? This is classic UK attitude at play. Again. (We don’t want a nanny state, but we need and expect to be nannied…
What do the words mendacious, jocular, desultory, insouciant and furtive mean to you? For some it might mean their ex-husbands, but not for us at Chez Us. The words for this week’s spelling test are… Yep. Seriously. I put this to Twitter the other night, in the following way: I received a number of responses, from parents, from those in the teaching profession and from some who’re both, and all seemed rather surprised that these words were in a spelling test for 9 – 10 year olds. Should we be? Should this be so surprising? Do you think this is…
