'You've got your hands full'

Young at heart photo album: A girly swot with bottle green knickers

I HAD such a lovely photo lined up for this, all chubby cheeks and cute smile, the image of one of my daughters now.

Honest I did.

But it's 30 miles away - in a drawer probably with a picture of Wham and a Smash Hits annual.

Media request (urgent today) : Does your baby have colic?

THIS message from Practical Parenting has just been passed to me:

I'm looking for mums whose babies are suffering from colic now and also for mums who've had babies with colic in the past. I'm looking for testers and tips. Please email roisin.johnson[at]magicalia.com if you can
help.

Name something you take to the beach...I love this Family Fortunes clip

THANK you, YouTube!

Wanted: Tips for first 'family' holidays

GOING on holiday with your children for the first time can be a bit of a culture shock.

I've just shared a disillusioned mum's story here.

I'd love to know thoughts/advice/tips for first family holidays.

If anyone would like to respond to Aqeela's story and offer any words of wisdom, that would be brilliant and I would like to include the responses in a later piece for www.havealovelytime.com

Thanks for reading.

You go girl, Katy Brand outwiggles Beyonce

Find out how you can help Sport Relief.

Friendship, fun and belly dancing, Happy World Thinking Day!

MY girls have a packed day ahead.

They both love being in the Guides and have had some brilliant fun, found great friends and tried some different things along the way. Who could ask for more?

When I was seven or eight I joined The Brownies. I didn't last long, leaving amid a minor scandal which involved wantonly chewing gum. I'd at least had time to be awarded a badge for housework, after scrubbing my dad's shirt collar and some darts trophies in the pub where we lived.

Media request: Was your teenage child your birth partner?

FROM Judy Yorke

“I’m working on a feature for a national newspaper about women who decided to have their teenage child  in the room with them when they gave birth. If that’s something you did, please get in touch! I’d need to speak to  both you and your teenager on the phone about why you made the decision and what the experience was like, and you’d also need to be photographed. There’s a £75 payment for families taking part. Please email judyyorke[at]montimedia.co.uk if you’re interested.”

Who can you do an impression of?

I CAN do Rustie Lee ( as seen sitting on top of the bloke above.)

This goes like this: "Very very nice, very very appetising."

Though sometimes I think it's supposed to be Bobby Ball.

Two sets of twins: Families share their stories

EVER wondered what it's like to have two sets of twins? Three families who have been doubly blessed - twice over - tell all.

TOM and Alison Colegrove had twins Alex and Stephen, after IVF treatment. A year later they conceived naturally and by accident.

Again it was twins (non identical). At the time of writing, Toby and Daniel were four-and-a-half months old and Alex and Stephen were two. Alison said: "We tried for two years to have a baby before we went to the doctor and because of my age he recommended that we get on with IVF. It was three-and-a-half years in total before we conceived. "I guess we weren't that surprised when I was told it was twins because there's always a higher chance of multiple births with IVF. I did feel a bit scared about how I'd cope but mainly we were just glad that we were going to have a family at last.

Write Away: How to write a non-fiction book synopsis

I'VE had seven examples of a synopsis initially accepted by a small publisher or agent. Only two of these ever saw the light of day as a published book.

In one of those books, The Greatest Freelance Writing Tips in the World, I explore what makes a winning synopsis. It should be:

• Compelling
• An excellent example of your writing
• A showcase for your research skills

Photo by Olivander on Flickr