Life after parenting

Hi there PR marketing and advertising companies. Just thought I’d drop you a line and let you know that there is life after parenting and we’re not all ready for Saga holidays, funeral plans and bath aids.

I get endless emails for the above, I also get endless emails inviting me to mums and tums groups and  to try new restaurants with play areas for my kids while I eat/drink in peace. I also get endless emails about 2 for 1 offers, discounts on group bookings in restaurants and at events, opportunities to review days out, kids books, toys, clothing and prams that are always a perfect fit with my blog, as there is an assumption that as I write about kids, they must all be small.

I don’t fit into either of these catagories and I feel the world of marketing is missing out on an untapped market.

I’m 46, my kids have left home and I have a disposable income. I don’t want spa days, brunches or experiences, as I'm not one of those people who has a large social network of friends that live in the same town as me. I don't work, therefore I'm not interested in discounts for 10 or more at certain times of the year and I'm not into joining gyms and other leisure activities.

I'm not really sure what I want if I'm honest from PR companies advertising and marketing agencies other than an offer of something that is fun.

I'd like 2 for 1 offers that I can use over two different dates, not have to bring someone with me on the day to benefit. I'd like to review your fancy bath products not anti wrinkle creams. I'd like to be sent a book to review that isn't in the self help/improvement category. Clothes that are fashionable not practical, bags that are fun and not for travel, stationery for keeping in touch with my pen pals.

I'm available during the day, like I said I don't work and I don't have small kids, surely I'm not exempt from using your facilities and visiting you during the day.

I might like to try your new menu and dine alone, take a good book with me to read, or does that make your establishment feel uncomfortable? I might like a free glass of wine with my meal for one as an incentive to get me to come and try your new menu, on my own. I might want to take advantage of that spare seat at a concert or a show and actually attend on my own.

I'm also more than happy to pay for all the above, but I feel that I don't get offered the same discounts, level of attention as others who turn up in groups, use 2 for 1 offers, or fit the niche of your establishment.

While there will always be people with kids, people who fit your targeted audience, there will always be people without kids, without a network of friends, people who don't want to join large groups or take part in activities. There will always be people who just want to be. Be on their own, experience new things, visit new places, that don't want to be ignored when they get there, don't want to be sat in a corner or away from everyone else. People who want to be in the thick of things. People with nothing else to spend their money on, except themselves, so why not let that be with you, why not offer them the same experiences as others?

Macaroon and Tracy Paul

I attend the Tracy Paul Macaroon Launch in Greenside this morning and I was very impressed with the range of stationery they had on offer. The Tracy Paul merchandise caught my immediate attention with a giraffe wearing a snorkel.

As an expat I'm expected to bring back African related gifts for birthday and christmas and after 4 years I think I've exhausted the market and TBH on my last trip to the UK in April I found more 'Safari' animal related goods there than I do over here. So it was really nice to see something new.

I had a chance to talk with Tracy (centre of photograph) and she told me she's been interested in art since the age of 4 and her favourite thing to draw are giraffes and anything wearing a tutu, this appeals to me greatly.

With cakes, coffee and champagne on offer and familiar faces I would have like to have stayed longer, but hubbies plane landed half an hour early so I had to leave.

I'm not often in the Johannesburg area, but next time I am, I will call back in.

Some of my favourite items of stationery were the menu and shopping plan, the travel journal and the coasters.

I received an original personalised Tracy Paul notebook and gift labels in exchange for this blog post.

What goes on at a food event?

Don't know whether I should call this a 'sponsored blog' or not. I wasn't given any directives. I was a plus 1 to an evening at Tesco in Hatfield. It was a foodie thing, for bloggers to sample foods and give an opinion....or something like that.

I'm not a food blogger, but there are a few food posts on my blog. Anyway I went along not really knowing what to expect, had a glass of bubbly on arrival, chatted with a few people before sitting down to a presentation on Berries. Strawberries......did you know there are 35 varieties? an average of 200 pips on one and that Tesco finest, standard and value all come from the same growers and are boxed according to size, colour and taste? the only other thing that really stuck in my mind was the new Kiwi berry coming soon, complete with edible skin.

There was a taster session and to be honest I ate more of the clotted cream than I did the strawberries and therefore wasn't able to play the 'was A, B or C the finest, standard or value range' game. I thought the balsamic vinegar dip was an interesting combination and the blackberries were a bit sharp.

A bit more talking another glass of bubbly, a questionnaire and then the bit it appears everyone had come for....the freebies. Can't seriously believe how far some people travelled for this event.

I cannot give you a cost for this recipe as one wasn't provided and I'm not really sure what Tesco wanted from this event. I'm put off trying new foods due to costs, I'm not a big fan of tasters in supermarkets as you never know who's grubby hands have been handling the food (customers that is) I like the idea of the ready prepared pots where you can taste a variety of fruits but they are so expensive.

For me to try something new, the event was the best way of doing it, unfortunately the kiwi berries weren't available to taste so I can offer no opinion on them, which is a shame. But I can offer an opinion on the taste, which was lovely and I'll let you know about my opinion on the price when I next buy the ingredients, but that will be back in South Africa.



 

I had to google the recipe for the Summer berry tart with lemon cream that we had sampled. You'll have to excuse my methods as I was using someone else's kitchen and couldn't find anything, but it was simple to make, infact so simple after I'd used her goodie bag to make theirs, I took my ingredients on a train and tube to Wimbledon to another friends house where I stayed last night and with the help of her 10 year old son, made another one.

 

Couldn't find a whisk, so used the blender attachment (It worked)

 Tesco provided the pastry case, so no need to make one

 When it says 'warm the redcurrant jelly' it means DO NOT BOIL IT or you'll spend half an hour cleaning the pan

 

Tah dah and tastes as good as it looks.......yummy

Climbing Kilimanjaro to support Adults with disabilities in South Africa

Right it's official. I'M GOING TO CLIMB MOUNT KILIMANJARO. In October for charity and to raise awareness for Adults with disabilities in South Africa.


My (step) daughter is in residential care in the UK, the money she receives for her care every year equates to the same amoun of government assistance available for the 140 residents at Kungwini Welfare Organisation in Pretoria.


I've been volunteering with them since July 2011 helping out in the workshop, making 2km of bunting to decorate their Christmas Market, their biggest fundraiser of the year, making bags (I'd never used a sewing machine before) and selling them to family and friends in the UK and using the funds to buy essential items such as toiletries and equipment for the workshop. Sometimes I jsut sit and chat with the residents, or turn up with a batch of cakes. But I want to to do more.


I've been suffering with Derpression as an expat, struggling to find my way. KWO has provided me with a place to go, a value and self worth to my life and i've met some amzing people and such a laugh with the staff. I want to do more. I'm currently fullfilling an order of bags for friends here in South Africa and trying my hand at making children's toys to sell on their behalf.



But before I sign up to the trip in October and pay the R20,000 (£1,500) I need to find out a little more about fundraising, training and sponsorship for equipment. I can't afford to pay the fee and purchase all my own gear. And I want to ensure that I can maximise the monies raised.



So many of you work with PR companies, review products on your blog and I never understand how you do this, do you contact them? if so how? or do they contact you?



I get around 250 hits on my blog a day via a handful of plugs on twitter. With my last post on Supporting Adults with disabilities in South Africa, receiving over 1000 hits.



So who can help me? Guide me in the right direction? Need to get this up and running ASAP so I can book the climb