Cybermummy11 – The Womenfolk Edition
Posted under Witterings
Look! No proper photo…I think this is my first post without a ‘real’ photo because, shock, I didn’t take my camera to Cybermummy. I just didn’t want to, I knew it would be a long day (it was) with lots of opportunities to put bags down and then forget them. So I just breezed in with my iphone, ipad and my personality. Oh, and a ticket of course.
I’ve been very low key about my plans to go to Cybermummy (the UK’s 2nd conference for parenting bloggers), mostly because I wasn’t really sure why I was going. Actually I had a huge wobble last week and decided to pull out. I was persuaded otherwise by a Nameless Fairy and I’m so glad I was, because I loved it. I absolutely adored meeting all the wonderful, inspirational, wise and warm women who have coloured my life for the past year or so. I could not have been more happy to run away from Laura as she tried to introduce herself (I got nerves, she shouted ‘SPUDDERS!!! across a crowded room so I legged it. She got me in the end, a rugby tackle did for me). I wish I’d had my camera when Jay asked for a volunteer in her photography workshop and I screwed my courage to the sticking place and stood up. HA! I sooooooo got her. Still, at least I didn’t get rugby tackled for that introduction.
Then there was Tara, oh I love Tara, wholesome and good and kind and she squidged me up in a big hug. Still basking in it. Josie went for the full on ‘body fling’ but she’s only about 3 ft tall so it didn’t hurt. Much. Erica surprised us both by kind of bouncing up and down like a spacehopper and squeaking. so I did too. She was pumped with adrenalin after her presentation. I had no excuse other than general insanity. Fortunately everyone else was necking wine by then so I ‘think’ we got away with it…
Kirsty attempted to fox me by having cut all her hair off and looking so similar to someone I used to work with I nearly fell over. But I spotted her, and stalked her. HA. Later she tried to fox me AGAIN by changing her outfit. Really, and I ‘that’ irritating?
Becky, AKA English Mum, turned out to be English AND a Mum. I squidged her. It felt good. Later I fell in love F…O…R…E…V…E…R with Knackered. She has a name, I know she does. But I can’t remember it so I’m going to call her Knackered (as per her blogname Knackered Mothers Wine Club). Seriously, please don’t tell her but I really do love her. And not just for the wine…
Earlier I fell head over heels with Claire and Lucy from Crumbs ‘quick family recipes to feed your family’. Seriously, I want to kidnap them and make them live here and feed MY family and entertain me with their wit and general wonderfulness. Everybody reading this post with small children, or any children actually…or anyone who eats come to think of it needs to read their blog. I am smitten, can you tell? I button-holed Lucy (I think?) and put in my order for what I would like them to cover (please please please…a weekly menu for children for the holidays…perhaps x2 weeks…us crap can’t cook mums would be soooo grateful). Anyway, I loved them. Immediate blog crush.
Then there was Rachael and I have hearted her forever, but hearing her speak with such passion about writing her novel reduced me to a wibble. I threw myself at her in the ladies loo (witnesses were present, no need to alert the authorities) and declared gushing blog love for her. Embarrassing. Later I saw a photo of her dislocating her jaw. I think we’re even now ;-)
Oh, and Potty. She has a name too, I asked her twice but I have some kind of processing issue that means I immediately forget people’s names as they are saying them to me. Arghh. Anyway, we didn’t embrace … there wasn’t any squeaking or body surfing … she’s a Real Grown Up. I wanted to spirit her off somewhere and make her talk to me about everything for the rest of the day, but not to be. I felt kind of small and silly but tried womanly to hold my own. I think she has a brain the size of a planet and sense of humour to match. Thank GOD she’s called Potty otherwise I would so…not…be…worthy. x
Speaking of grown ups, gulp…I breezed up to Christine and talked rubbish at her for ages. Poor soul. I was completely star struck [embarrassing].
Then Violet Posy came along and we talked about chickens, design and Bury St Edmonds. And I got one of her business cards #punchesair.
I gushed at Metropolitan Mum for a while and she looked, rightly, afraid. I made a new best friend in Vanessa. I adopted her in the queue on the way in and clung to her, limpit-like for much of the day. She admitted to having stepped on the hem of her maxi frock getting out the taxi and guffawed with such MIGHT that I fell in love on the spot. Oh and then other new friend Lucy pottered along and instantly I LOVED her too and whipped out the iPad to subscribe to her blog right there and then. She’s cool and unflappable and had left her baby boy for the first time and was being admirably brave about it.
Cara knitted moustaches and some of us had our photos taken with them. I think that’s enough about that until the photos are REVEALED. But let’s take a moment to revel in the glory of a NUTTER who spends time knitting MOUSTACHES. She’s completely insane, obviously, and therefore I heart her.
Oh and MummyLimited (must have a name, don’t know it…never matters though) was there with tiny teeny baby E who is about 5 minutes old. I was so in awe, she wafted around with such confidence and E was totally unbothered by the whole affair. Respect, huge respect. I could barely get out of my pyjamas never mind go to a full on Big Day Out with such a tiny babe.
Finally, after knowing her forever, I got to meet lovely Laura. We tweeted each other all morning trying to meet up, eventually I bossily ordered her to ‘stay in your seat and I will find you’. After a 2 minute chat I cut a business deal with her. We’re businesslike kind of people. No body bumping was required, we went for air kissing MWWAH…..MWHAAAA!! Quick Masonic handshake, job done.
And then there was Paula..oh lovely Paula. She’s a delight, I wanted to scoop her up and pop her in to my voluminous handbag and take her home. Alas she has a life and wasn’t up for that. I had to make do with a quick peck, mwha MWHA, and a gorgeous if oh-so short chatter. Love that woman.
There were others, of course there were but I’ve run out of steam. But, right at the end, as I was leaving there was Sian. Gorgeous Sian who co-founded Cybermummy, weary beyond anything but still smiling and working. So I talked at her to death and then gave her a big snog for good measure, because without her yesterday would not have happened. One day she’ll recover. From Cybermummy I mean. From me snogging her? Never.
