'You've got your hands full'

Halloween, love it or hate it?

I'M not a fan and fully appreciate this makes me a killjoy.

What do you think? I recently posted about this on Ready for Ten and so far the comments seem about 50-50 as to those who say it's a great fun time and others who say no fangs. (Yes see what I did there.)

The parties can be great and there's lots of fab crafts to get stuck into, but it's trick or treating which leaves me cold.

My concerns are about kids thinking they can knock on people's doors fully expecting to be kindly given sweets, or in some cases, money.

I know there are plenty of people who share a sunny disposition and believe this is marvellous. I suppose I just happen to be a miserable old sod who doesn't like the thought of my daughters going from home to home asking for such treats.

Media request: Help the Hairy Bikers get their hands on your buns*

THE team behind the Hairy Bikers is looking for brilliant recipes to feature in the acclaimed BBC Two series Mums Know Best.

Si King and Dave Myers are once again undertaking a nationwide search for Britain’s most cherished and treasured recipes for the second series.

They say:

Do you have recipes that have been handed down through generations using tried and trusted methods and ingredients to create dishes which are firm family favourites?

Do you love to cook and feed people?

Do you own a dog-eared cookbook you wouldn’t be without?

Do you have nostalgic memories of cooking with your mum, grandmother or great grandmother?

Healthy eating advice from Liz Hurley? No thanks

LIZ Hurley is a beautiful and successful actress-cum-model-cum-producer-cum-organic farmer. Her face adorns advertising hoardings, glossy magazine pages and carrier bags. I'm a fat mum of two who longs to be five stone lighter. My face adorns scary rollercoaster pictures.

But I won't be buying her "guilt free" bars thanks.

Here's why. Two years ago, I jotted down the following points after a life-changing appointment with the nutritionist Lyndel Costain.

Oreos killed the radio star?

TODAY I was interviewed by Jim Hawkins at Radio Shropshire about binge eating.

For now, you you can  hear our chat here. (The interview starts at around 1.19 on the counter in the bottom left hand corner and continues to about 1.45.)

I will never be a fan of hearing my own voice on the radio, what with managing to sound, well, common as muck, but what strikes me listening back to it, is how determined I sound and possibly a bit scary.

I'm just trying to get across that there is more to life than dieting, that we should be kinder to ourselves and not put off having fun or achieving things until we have lost a couple or few stone.  I also love the fact that I crack up when Jim asks me how far along my own journey I am. And for some reason, I mention Disney...

Listen on to hear Midlands Today's David Gregory striding through custard. Perhaps I should try it - could beat the treadmill. 

Beat eating disorders.

Lyndel Costain. 

The interview will be on Listen Again for a week.

Tagged by Littlemummy.com and Dulwich Divorcee: Some stuff about me

Erica and Alice have passed the baton on this one, so here goes...

1. What are your current obsessions?

As ever lots of things. Family and work, work and family. That's about it really. Blog wise, I'm still reeling from our Disney experience, and am blown away by the work of Camilla Chafer and Keris Stainton so far on our new travel blog, Havealovelytime.com.

2. Which item of clothes do you wear most often?

Just anything black, black and more black. If you want to know why, look here.

Mummy, your bum definitely looks big in that

LOOK up fat in the dictionary. Does it say "ugly"? does it say, "lazy"? Hell, does it say "stupid" or "criminal?"

Of course it doesn't. So why do we have to all be so cruel to people who are overweight or obese, children included?

Help! I've eaten too much Toblerone

THE frighteningly gorgeous Cate is today asking a very important question - What's your favourite comfort food?

I bought two Toblerones last Thursday, they are absolute giants.

I have already eaten one and pretended that I only bought the other - if you see what I mean, hiding the wrapper in the bin under some soggy teabags.

This afternoon, I have started on the second. Oh dear - they were supposed to be a present for Neil, after all. Next time I'll stick with some golf balls - they're harder to chew.