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Aly

About Me

I go by the name of Aly (short for Alyson), although that is my middle name. I used to use my first name Emma on some sites. So some of you may know me by that.

I am married to Brian and have been since December 2007 when we got married on the top of Table Mountain in Cape Town. It was stunning, just me, Brian, my children as our best man and bridesmaid, and one very old friend. A total contrast to my first wedding!

I have three children. Twins born in 1999, Ryan and Taryn, from a previous marriage and Maya born in 2008, from my current marriage. Maya was hiding in all our wedding photo's ;)

I have a diary which I update every now and again... usually when I have something interesting or mildly witty to say... don't set your expectations too high though!

Daily Life

After leaving the UK in 2004 and spending 6 years abroad, I'm now back. I lived in Denmark for two years and Germany for four. Coming back here has been a bit of a culture shock. I live in Hertfordshire which is not that far from London. Near enough to the city to get there in 20 minutes, but far enough away to feel like being in the country.

I am very luckly. My husband and I own www.worldsbiggestchat.com (a very large international chat site), www.ivegotkids.com (still in developement) www.liveandworkin.eu/ (a guide for Brits who want to move around Europe) and www.meazy.co.uk/ (the parent company for both "I've Got Kids" and "Live and Work In" and an IT consultancy within Denmark), all of which allow me to work from home.

My kids don't realise how lucky there are to have a mother who's home when they get home from school every day and not be latch key kids! I love that I can be home for them, although they often forget I'm working and expect me to be playing with them all the time. I have to explain to them regularly that if I was working in an office, I wouldn't be home yet!

We share our home with our Ragdoll cats who were born in September 2009. Two boys by the name of Jaypeg and Ping. They are the most incredibly sociable cats I've ever come across. Craving company in a way only dogs can!

 

My Passions and Pet Peeves

My passions are simple. My kids and hubby. I completely and totally adore them.

My pet peeves include people who don't do research or have the ordasity to criticize those of us who do, without understanding the chosen topic or accepting that sometimes recommendations change.

Since I have a toddler, many of these topics currently affect that age group. Topics like early weaning for babies before 6 months of age, BLW (Baby Led Weaning), the benefits of keeping a child rear facing for as long as possible in a car, the benefits of nursing toddlers to two years and beyond etc can either set a child up for life or save lives. I've never understood why a mother would for example, stop drinking or smoking or eating sushi in pregnancy, only to put their child forward facing in a car when the child weighs 20lb. It makes no sense to me at all.

I have a LOT to say on these topics, however here is not the place LOL I could be at it all day!

I think that's enough for now - catch you all soon!