'You've got your hands full'

Poll: Who will you vote for in the General Election?

APOLOGIES if this has been done to death, but I'm interested in who readers of this blog, other UK parent bloggers and anyone else who wants to share, will vote for come May 6.

You can answer the questions above anonymously. If you want to explain more about choosing the "other" option, please do so in the comments, but please note I'd prefer if you could put your name to your comment.

Thanks. Maybe this will fall as flat as my attempt at Bombay potatoes, who knows.

New job: Back to what I love doing best, thanks Twitter!

I'VE always loved being an editor. In recent years, with two little girls to work around, I thought my days of holding that position were over.

But a few weeks back, a tweet from Rosie alerted me of a vacancy I may be able to fill.

And so, this week I've started as managing editor of Ready for Ten.

Of course there was a bit in between. 

It's a busy role but it's just brilliant to be back doing something I really love. There's already a fantastic team of writers in place.

Help! I thought kids' questions were supposed to get easier

EVERY now and again you see a survey that tells you how much a mum would get paid if her taxi driving, bum cleaning and cooking skills were taken into account.

I don't know what the going rate for all of those things are but I reckon the pollsters are missing an important and costly trick on top. They're overlooking a key weapon in the sussed parent's arsenal - that's being a smart arse. Who else is there to answer questions - however bizarre - thrown at them?

This is a priceless asset and should come top of any CV. Trouble is I can be really crap at it.

Blog awards update: Chuffed to make the authors' shortlist and top ten travel bloggers

THANK YOU to everyone who voted for Got Your Hands Full in the Author Blog awards.

Out of more than 500 sites submitted, this one made it to the shortlist. I was dead chuffed about that.  I even made it into the local papers.

Congratulations to the very lovely and awe-inspiring Jane Alexander who finished as a runner up in one of the categories. And well done to Tim and Alice who were also shortlisted.

Parenting, relationships and health: Various features

I'M a former editor of Tamba's Twins, Triplets & More magazine and have written for various newspapers, magazines and websites. 

My blog You've got your hands full has received lovely feedback from parents, as well as being featured by publications including The Times Online and The Telegraph.

Business, careers and technology: Selected features

The Telegraph: Headhunted on Facebook

AS some companies ban social networks, others are using them to find recruits, says Linda Jones. Read more.

The Guardian: Carving virtual gravestones

MORE and more people are leaving tributes to loved ones on memorial websites, but are they opening themselves up to abuse? Read more.

The Guardian: Member of the twittering classes

MP Alan Johnson is using the microblogging tool in his campaign to be Labour deputy leader. But is it 'potentially the biggest waste of time in the world'? Linda Jones reports. Read more.

Media request: Businesswomen's and mothers' stories wanted

LIZ Jarvis is researching two stories for major magazines and would love to hear from you if you feel you may be able to help.

She says:

1. I'm looking for women in their 50s and 60s who changed careers within the past four years to set up their own businesses, and there is no fee but there will be a shoot and credit will be given. Must be prepared to talk about start-up costs and turnover. Is for major upmarket glossy.
 
2. I'm looking for mums in their 20s and 30s with an interesting story about their mothering experience, for example, about how their children inspired them to follow their dream. For major magazine.

Please email Liz: Lizjarvis1[at]yahoo.co.uk if you want to get in touch.

A wonderful weekend at the York Festival of Writing

UNIVERSITIES make me nervous. Usually because of the people in them.

There were times over the weekend where I felt overwhelmed. But this was in a good way.

I was at the York Festival of Writing where I was invited by Kate Allan to give a talk on um, making money from writing. Not many people there seemed to think this was possible. But then I was talking about a different kind of writing - non-fiction, journalism, copywriting - you name it - not fiction.

I don't see why the two have to be mutually exclusive and I came away from the event the most determined I have ever been to make a go of a novel.

Listening to bestselling novelist Katie Fforde explaining how she was rejected for seven years by Mills & Boon, that 'writing shouldn't read like writing' and that by working at your craft and persevering were the keys to success was quite something.

Author Blog Awards: I'm on the shortlist!

Thanks a million for voting...now please can you do it again?

YOU may remember I was nominated in the Author Blog Awards.

Weeeelll, thanks a million to everyone who also added their support, as I have now been (ta-da!) shortlisted.

As suspected there are some "big name" authors also on the list, which has reportedly been whittled down from more than 500 sites, so I'm dead chuffed to have got this far.

Essentials magazine: 'The secret we need to start talking about'

HERE'S a (rare) snap shot of me that wasn't a) taken 10 years ago or b) taken under extreme duress c) taken at a Disney theme park.

The reason I decided to brave the camera for a change was as part of a feature for Essentials magazine all about different mental health conditions and why you shouldn't feel ashamed.

My headline reads: "At last it made sense, I wasn't mad or weak - I was ill."

I'm featured discussing past episodes of depression alongside Sasha talking about post-natal depression, Barbara who details her OCD and Siobhan who explains how she has been affected by bipolar disorder.

The photo shoot was hilarious and full of fun. It's not a day I will forget in a hurry thanks to the warmth of the Essentials team and the laughs I shared with the inspirational women featured, not least Barbara who had me in stitches. I'm also delighted that the piece, the brainchild of journalist Alison Palmer, includes a plug for our mental health blog Breaking the Silence.