I’m going to Britmums Live!

© Teamarbeit | Stock Free Images & Dreamstime Stock Photos

So tomorrow I’m joining 500 mothers at Britmums Live!, a conference for parent bloggers. Just imagine it: rampant, roaring hoardes of lovely ladies – lunchbox-preparers; bottom-wipers and schoolbag sherpas – descending on the city of London in a burst of spots, stripes, Cath Kidston florals and laptops.

Am I excited?  Hell, yes! Part of that is about being an IGU (Independent Grown Up) for two WHOLE days and two WHOLE nights. Part of it is about learning, stimulation, inspiration and connecting. And part of it is, of course, the prospect of drinking alcohol and not having to get up the next morning at some ungodly toddler-decreed hour.

I haven’t been to this sort of thing before, but I’m hoping and/or expecting:

• to be inspired by the workshops and the speakers
• to connect with other parents who, like me, are trying to balance family life with creative pursuits
• to be slightly overwhelmed by all the possibilities – both at the conference and afterwards
• to feel severe and unremitting ipad envy

Butterflies
Having had great intentions earlier in the year to connect with more parent bloggers online (aka get off my butt and do more commenting) and having not in any way shape or form lived up to this intention, I am very happy about the Britmum Butterflies.

This is a truly inspired idea – a desk, manned by friendly delegates who are up for chatting to Those Who Know No-one. All delegates will be given an optional butterfly sticker to stick on their name tag to show that they up for a chat. I shall wear mine on my forehead.

Reporting
I’m also going to be reporting on three of the many sessions I’ll be attending:

1. Roundtable: British Blogging Now
2. Blogger’s Studio: Getting Published
3. 360 Media

These will be published on the Britmum’s site so check back here & I’ll post a link to them when they go up.

It is hard to believe that tomorrow I will be luxuriating an in East Coast Rail carriage, with five whole hours alone to read and write and knit and drink tea. Yes, such is my life that a long train journey taken alone is cause for considerable excitement in itself.

Speaking of excitement, while the prospect of being away for two full days is, to be honest, absolutely bloody wonderful, I also fully expect that by the time the train is crawling up the beautiful coast of Northumberland, an hour or so from Edinburgh, I’ll start looking at my watch. Then, I’ll be wish the train would go faster. Then I’ll get sort of itchy and fidgety. That will soon turn into a desperation, a physical ache, to wrap all the Little Enemies in my arms again.

When I’ve done that, I’ll give Mr Enemy the biggest smacker of a kiss for holding the fort and letting me be an IGU for two (WHOLE) days.