Hello gurgle world... I mostly blog about food but incase I feel the need to vent about weaning and breastfeeding I thought this would be a more appropriate place! My son is 3 now but he was very premature and we didn't have an easy time. I have plenty to say about it but my usual blog at Maison Cupcake is not really the place for it. The jury is still out whether I dare have another baby, I have morbid fear that it will turn out like the first time and take my hat off to these people who go through it all again after the stuff we went through.I have previously written about my son's arrival here so won't repeat it verbatim again but intend to post on Gurgle blogs about parental issues that touch me which would be more appropriate for this audience. Assuming any of you are interested. View less

I’m in love with the New Meriva! Honestly! It’s so superb that I am actually reconsidering what I drive. It made my week so much easier – I never would have thought a car could do that. This car is for mummies, it’s almost as if it was designed by mummies. Gray my partner used to be a mechanic and like most men is obsessed with cars.  He really rates the car and has shown me (a few times now) why 'its so clever' (he especially loves the doors and the storage compartments as he hates the mess I create in his car without so many hidden compartments to use), so that’s a good accolade for starters. Making it into a four seater from a five seater is normally something I would be wary to tackle, but I managed to do it on my own with no fuss! It’s the little things that count with this car – like the cup holder on the little tables at the back (where the kids sit) which actually work and hold a drink securely – much better than the ones you find on a plane! Everything about this car is effortless.The storage is very clever – because there is no hand brake, there's loads of room between the two front seats for storage. It can also slide back as well as have another tier connected to create even more compartments, so I had my coffee, wet wipes, my breakfast, house keys, make-up, baby horsey, baby giraffe…(very essential) all accomodated comfortably. In fact, after the trial had finished someone from Vauxhall had to drop round loads of various bits of my stuff that I’d scattered in all the different compartments of the car! I literally spread out! Even the fact that the sunglasses storage pocket is on the right above the drivers door and out of the way, but accessible when you are driving makes it feel like it was designed especially for me. Ava and I decided to see the film Nanny McPhee. We were a bit early at the cinema so I used the Sat Nav to find us a lovely restaurant before the film started. Ava loved the film; well, she loved the burping bird anyway. The film finished and we went from the darkness of the cinema to the lightness of the car! Our box of popcorn sat perfectly where the hand brake normally sits, which was handy for me to reach and pass to her, but control from major spillages! I had a lovely day out and it felt like a treat because Ava loved the car journey as much as the day out. There were no protestations about getting back into the magic car, she just sat and talked about the film and the animals she could see out of the window! A real bonus for parents is the theatre seating in the back, which means that the back seat is raised and parents have clear visibility of passengers, kids can also see more of their parents and a better view out of the window at the front. Obviously Ava loved it because she could see more of what I was doing and was extra high up and it’s also great for mummies; when I looked in my mirror I could easily see Ava in the back seat, I didn’t have to move my head around or twist dangerously for a better view. I’m a new mummy and still learning and I certainly want to keep an eye on Ava in the back seat, or, if I’m taking my friend’s kids anywhere I have to be able to see them. We got stuck in a horrendous traffic jam and Gray was really surprised to see us arrive back home with smiling faces. Although the car was confined in the traffic, we didn't remotely feel enclosed or claustrophobic with all the space.. Happy toddler, happy mama!  (Heart image by Star Bakery)  View less

I have really been enjoying showing the New Meriva off this week!! Everyone who's been round to visit has had a tour of the car and all it's fabulous features!  My mum and dad really liked it, and even gave Jack a turn at the wheel!  My mum asked if the switch style handbrake could be turned off while parked (meaning a child could do that if they were in the parked car alone), but of course it stayed put.  I now understand why you have to have the clutch and brake engaged when starting the car - to avoid anything like this happening!  I've found this really easy to get used to.  One thing that was different to begin with was the fact you have to press unlock once to unlock the driver door, and twice to unlock the whole car.  I found that when I stopped I would go to get Jack out and I'd have forgotten to press unlock again.  At first I wondered how useful this feature was, but then when I stopped to nip into a friend's house - I didn't have to lock the car.When Jack’s older something like this will be great as he won’t be able to escape!I've got used to it now and to be honest I prefer it that way.  At nursery I've been telling as many staff/ parents as I can about the car and how great I've found it!  I've had lots of comments like about how 'cool' and 'modern' it looks, but mainly it's the back Flexdoors that parents love.These are still my favourite feature about the car! The car also survived my 'big shop' for the week.  Boxes of nappies, cat litter, 1000s of loo rolls etc + enough food for a month!  The boot is really spacious and I managed to fit everything in as well as the buggy!  I usually have to put some bags on the back seat next to Jack, so it was great to fit it all in the boot!  There is a hook you can pull out in the boot to hang delicate things on to stop anything squashing.  I hung my bag of eggs/ cakes etc on there and they were all fine and in one piece when I got home.  Bread/cakes always seems to get squashed no matter how I put them in the car.  Loved this little hook!The New Meriva has been great for my daily needs, zipping about here and there with Jack.  I've put the FlexRail through it's paces - it's the storage area in between the front two seats.  As there's no 'handbrake' there's lots of room for kiddy nick nacks, and I stored stuff underneath and on top.  Great for when you're driving along and need quick access to a toy/ drink etc!!I am still really enjoying driving this car and I'm slightly worried I'm going to get too used to all the features and gadgets...!!   View less

So today we had planned a day out to High Lodge in Thetford Forest and guess what? Yeah that's right it's raining. Lots! Don't you just love British weather? So not only do we have to get our "off road" buggy, changing bag and picnic basket in the boot but also our wellies and waterproofs. Luckily the Meriva boot is a great size so it fits in no problem. We arrive in the car park and not surprisingly not many cars are there, it's a week day and most people have more sense than to trek through a forest in bad weather. I can't help feeling a bit smug as the Meriva is the nicest car there. The normally quiet forest centre is very noisy today, it's over-run with builders preparing a stage for the summer concerts that occur each year, they have some well known acts in the next few weeks including Scouting for Girls, Doves, Katie Melua, and The Saturdays. The workmen don't get in our way of heading straight to the cafe for a cup of tea and a pasty till the rain dies down though. After our bite to eat we decide to take a walk along one of the trails, we chose the squirrel trail which is about 3 miles. Every now and again we reach an information post telling us about the wildlife that lives here in the forest, so now I know all about the population of red squirrels and roe deer. At the end of the trail we come across a maze. I remember this maze as a kid and unfortunately it is now a little worse for wear and the giant animal climbing frame no longer exists. However a new play area has been created in another part of the forest. The swings and climbing apparatus are all made out of wood from the forest so all very eco-friendly. There's also a giant woodpecker with a slide for a tail and a climbing frame in the shape of a logging truck with an information board to teach children all about the way the forest works. Who says learning can't be fun. Seren is a little too young to enjoy a lot of the activities (which include mountain biking trails, go ape - an assault course up in the trees, and paintballing) but she very much enjoyed hearing the birds and seeing ducks and squirrels and trying to eat a pine cone or three. It was a race against the thunder back to the car we managed to pack up before the storm rolled over us. Seren was asleep within seconds of being strapped in the car seat, must be all that country air. Daddy and I just sat there with the sunroof blind rolled right back watching the lightning and eating cake. It was very romantic. We really enjoyed our day in the forest and will definitely bring Seren back when she is a little older and the weather is a little warmer. View less