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Hi there

Just came across this video. It is compelling viewing...watch it today.

Click here to watch it...

I hope you will never be in a position like that?

Just imagine what it would feel like, to think that you were not going to have a chance again to be the best Dad you could be…

Then, imagine getting that chance to do things properly… After I saw this video, I did three things:

1. I made sure I was doing the right things with the kids at the right time!
2. I cut down my working late at night hours.
3. I also cut out the negative energy contacts, that WEAR YOU DOWN!

The timing was perfect for me; to ensure that I continued being the best Dad I could possibly be! I know that along the way I got sidetracked ...

...or tired? Ring any bells?

If I can lead you to do one thing today...it’s to put a solid plan in motion to give your family the life they deserve and more of your most valuable commodity...time!

Starting today, click here to follow a blueprint for a better life for your family...

Love,

Wayne

P.S. What are your 3 most important things in life? Let me know in the comments below and please 'Like' too.

Hi there,

May is my best month of the year...bar none.

The Sun brings all the right ingredients together...

• Warm weather.
• Longer & lighter days, so more time is spent outside.
• Flowers end their patient wait and explode with colour.
• Woodlands show off their best prizes, which for me is wild garlic. The smell is AWESOME! I also adore Rhododendrons too...

April mind, does take some beating because one of natures best, the Bluebell provides the prettiest carpet I have ever seen. We certainly enjoyed them this year in the Wenallt Woods! Here is a picture of our activities.

Things to do in April

In addition, we enjoyed a superb 4 night break in heaven, aka Pembrokeshire. When the sun is shining, there is simply no-where better. Wales has it all, mountains, sea, Castles, people and history! I absolutely adore our culture.

Enough said, enjoy the coming summer...wherever you are!

Don't stand under the stones!

If you need some ideas on activities or recipes for the kids, check out the Parenting Inner Circle. Take up the FREE offer...

Love,

Joe

Hi there,

I sometimes feel that my life is so hectic, that I miss those 'tiny moments'. However, this morning was definitely one of those and I relished every second. My 12 year old daughter, Cerys was stood beside me in the kitchen and said she'd like Lemon Curd on her bagels for breakfast. She then promptly set about making fresh Lemon Curd.

The result 20 minutes later was simply stunning and was done without so much as a word from me.

This was indeed a massive pat on the back. Good parenting is understanding that teaching them just takes time. You show them the way, and hope that the lesson are being taken on board. This morning was payback time ...in bucket fulls.

Added to that, all the kids made and decorated chocolate cup cakes for their mother (also made beautiful posters and cards) without any help from me, as part of mothering Sunday.

Finally, Mari (aged 6) jumped 2 classes in her swimming lessons and Ffion (aged 10) moved up 1 class too. They were given achievement certificates and badges, which suitably reflected their new found pride! It was fully deserved.

So, this is one day that I actually am going to say...you reap what you sow ...and I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it! Thanks kids... I love you! x

Love

Dad
xxx

Hi there,

Not even going to look at the date...but I know it's a long time since I last posted.

Can't begin to explain how busy life has been. Coupled with that, we've had our annual Rugby tournament (RBS 6 Nations), where the top 6 European Countries play against each other for the coveted trophy. We came 4th, again!

Move on quickly...

The weather here is absolutely stunning for this time of year. 17 degrees Celsius during the day in unheard of, so the birds, daffodils and gardeners have been going overtime...I just love it!

That allowed us last weekend to take our 1st bike ride of the year. Whilst Ffion was at a party (again), the rest of us headed down to the path at Sophia Gardens where we ended up outside the Glamorgan Cricket ground. Much to Mari's chagrin, we had to turn around and make sure we were in time to pick up her sibling.

Tonight, the clocks move forward to introduce British Summer Time. That means light nights... I love 'em! I asked the kids what they loved about summer. They all had their own unique answers but missed the obvious one for me...BBQ. Bring it on!

Don't forget to look at the night sky at the moment...stars are simply stunning!

Health & love,

Joe

Hi there!

If you are anything like me, you'll already be hugely excited about Christmas! With only 18 sleeps to go, there is not much time left to get in all your jobs (including work!).

I love doing the preparatory stuff with the girls. Things like Christmas lists, letters to Santa, speaking to the elves on-line and making reindeer food etc. So, I thought I'd create a couple of special forms for you to use with your children when writing to Santa. Have them with my complements.

All that I ask, is that you pay this act of kindness forward to 3 other people so that you make a small but important difference in this troublesome world.

Health and happiness!

Click here for a letter to Santa.

Click here for directions for Santa.

Joe

Hi there,

This weekend saw the first snowfall of the year. The surprising thing is, is that we never have snow before December, so this was a real treat!! Being on a weekend made it simply wonderful.

I have attached a few photos of our 2 day sledging fun. The images are simply stunning and captures nature at its very best (and the kids of course!)

We had a mixture of snow mobiles, but can honestly say for soft snow, polystyrene surf boards and fertiliser bags (filled with hay or straw - thanks to Grandad) are the best to glide over the powdery stuff, whilst still giving you some degree of control!

The other point about snow is that it brings the opportunity for hot chocolate! When you are cold to the core, nothing else will do. Add to that 2 lots of home soup, then life begins to be complete!

Finally, add the fact that Ffion and Mari's school fair was on Saturday, created a real Christmas buzz and couple that with Ffion's school choir winning a Christmas carol competition late on Sunday made it a real weekend to remember!!

Thank you good fairies everywhere!!

Love,

Joe

Kids sledging Nov 2010

Hi there ya'll

I am beginning to see the wood from the trees...at last!

This little bit of spare time has allowed me to do the little jobs I have been pushing to the back of my mind.

So, with great satisfaction, I have added some lovely pictures of things I have done with my girls recently into Facebook.

I have loads of pictures to share! This is just the beginning of a number of new photo albums coming your way!

Go here...http://www.facebook.com/pages/How-to-Raise-Children-Successfully/106923766016246

Stay loving,

Joe

Ingredients

• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 stick celery,chopped
• 1 carrot, grated
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• Large knob of butter
• 1 tin chopped tomatoes or similar size Pessata.
• 200ml vegetable stock
• 2 tbsp double cream

Method:

1. Cook the onion, carrot, celery and crushed garlic in the butter, until softened. Add the tomatoes and vegetable stock. Simmer for 15 minutes.
2. Whizz in a blender. Stir in the double cream and that's it.

Perfect for a cold blustery day!

Happiness!

Joe

Hey there!

The Evans' are soooooooo excited about Halloween! We have a party planned where they have all invited a friend to join us. They all have new costumes. Cerys a blooded nurses costume and Ffion and Mari have a 'Joker' costume from Batman!

The order of the day tomorrow will be start baking, cooking and preparation at 1.30pm. Friends will join us at 3pm, so that they can also enjoy the fun cooking too.

So far, we have planned (as usual) a haunted graveyard cake, ghoulish marshmallow ghosts, witches scab soup, spiders web muffins, sqeamish squares with worms & chocolate orange spider jelly!!

We'll play party games at 4pm and go 'trick and treating' at 5pm! In all there should be at least 14 of us including Dot little ones. Yahoo! Downside, is the amount of sugar they will take on board tomorrow. At least it's only one day (two at most). I love Halloween though, so do the kids!!

The other positive side to Halloween are Pumpkins. Having carved 3 (one each), I was left with lots of flesh...so today we enjoyed a simple soup, which is enclosed for you to try!

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 onions , finely chopped
• 1kg pumpkins peeled, deseeded and chopped into chunks
• 700ml vegetable stock
• Spoonful of Creme fresh

Method:

1. Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan, then gently cook the onions for 5 mins, until soft but not coloured. Add the pumpkin to the pan, then carry on cooking for 8-10 mins, stirring occasionally until it starts to soften and turn golden.
2. While the soup is cooking, oven bake part baked baquettes for 10-12 minutes.
3. Pour the stock into the pan. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 10 mins until the pumpkin is very soft. Purée with a hand blender and then add the Creme fresh and stir in.
4. Serve... voila!

Enjoy!

Happy Halloween!

Joe