As I’m sure most of you know, London will host the Olympic and the Paralympic Games in 2012.  As a proud Londoner herself, Amanda’s obviously very keen on the notion of promoting anything that encourages kids to get fit and keep fit and of course to get involved in any way that they can to support what will be a great time for Londoners  There are now only 4 years to go until the London Olympics begins, so it’s highly unlikely that anybody who’s presently attending one of Amanda’s toddler classes is going to end up on the podium in 2012, but there will be many different ways that youngsters and parents can get involved in the cultural events and activities at various London schools over the next 4 years and Amanda will be encouraging all her kids to do their bit.

There are things happening all over London. However, most new sporting facilities will be focused in four London boroughs:

• Hackney
• Newham
• Tower Hamlets
• Waltham Forest

There’ll obviously be lots of building and structural work going on in those areas in order to create the kind of stadia that a world-wide event like the Olympic Games demands.  Hopefully much of what is being constructed will live-on for Londoners afterwards - as part of the London Olympic legacy!

Mums on Call is the the brain-child of Lisa Barrett - a mum of 3 from Chiswick. Lisa first met Amanda around 13 years ago, when she used to take her (now 14 year old) daughter to Amanda’s activity classes at the Acton Priory Centre. Thereafter she took her son and finally her other daughter, Lily who is now 7. Lisa says, “Lily loved the classes at Acton and Chiswick. All of my children adored Amanda and her classes - and I had lots of fun at them too. Lily and her friends will always remember how great her 3rd birthday party was with Amanda at Brentford’s St Paul’s Church. I must admit, I really do miss those ‘Amanda days’ with the kids!” 

Anyway, Lisa just dropped Amanda a note to tell her all about her new business which is called Mums on Call - and Amanda thought that it was such a fantastic initiative, and was so pleased for Lisa, that Amanda thought that she ought to tell the world through the medium of her website.

Mums on Call is a family concierge and flexible childcare service for busy families. They supply experienced, friendly mums (or spritely grandmas!) to help out with flexible childcare (usually up to three hours) in your home - or at a local park, kids club etc… They also help to get tasks crossed off the family’s ‘To Do’ list - such as helping set up parties, waiting in for a delivery, picking up groceries or dry cleaning - in fact, the tasks on a ‘To Do’ list of a busy mum are endless!

Leaving the final word with Lisa who says, ” I wanted to introduce a service which helped other mums out there - sort of like supplying substitute mums for those who just need an extra pair of hands now and then. ”

If you want to know more about the services Lisa provides, her various contact details are shown below.

Website Link: Mums on Call (http://www.mumsoncall.co.uk)
Contact Lisa Barrett: 020 8231 8850
email: info@mumsoncall.co.uk

Amanda has long been a supporter of special needs children attending her regular classes and parties - so you can imagine how thrilled she was when she encountered Special Pebbles recently. This is an informal and relaxed play group for parents/carers of babies and children from 0 months to 5 years with special needs.  Special Pebbles is a fantastic innovation and is held from 10:00am to -12noon every Tuesday (during term-time) at The Salvation Army, 21-23 Dalling Road,  Hammersmith W6 0JD - located just off Kings Street in Hammersmith and a one-minute walk from Ravenscourt Park Tube station.
 
Learn to sing and sign, have coffee, chat and discuss key topics relevant to special needs children with other parents & professionals. 
Weekly during term time.  £2 donation per child
 
For more information call Caroline Scott 07712 942 867 or Sophie Sainty 07801 233 207.

When Amanda has one of her  Xmas Parties - she really pushes the boat out. This year it was full-tilt again as she played host to 93 children at Chiswick Town Hall on Monday 10th December.  There was all sorts of goings-on with party treats, and entertainment from a bouncy-castle, break-dancing-spiderman (well you gotta’ have one of them!) a clown, a balloon man and a face-painter…(phew) … and then of course there was Amanda’s own special brand of activity and music mayhem.   If you missed it this year - don’t worry ‘cos there’ll another along about this time next year!