The Aftermath of the Croydon Riots In Pictures

Argos - looted and empty but staff outside giving out the new catelogue

PC World/Currys - nothing left to sell, looted with £60 000 worth of stolen goods

H&M - smashed but open

Jewellery shop boarding up the windows ready to re-open

Even charities like Age UK and funeral directors were vandalised and looted

PC World/Currys out of town superstore - looted, nothing left to sell

Lidl in West Croydon - burned

This is Reeves Corner - minus Reeves Furniture Store. The pile of rubble is what is left of it

Riot police patrol the streets and shopping centres. People keep going up to them and thanking them for their help in making Croydon begin to feel safe again - although many people here are still scared.

One of several blocks of burned out flats - people had to jump for safety right into the riots. It's amazing no-one has been killed

A music shop looted and burned

Smashed up instruments 

More burned out flats - people's homes being demolished

The clean up

Strange days

It's been a really strange few days in Croydon. We did have William's birthday party but, sadly, only two of his friends made it. William still had a lovely time but he did keep saying it didn't feel like a real party with so few of them and that he was sad his friends didn't come. He understands why and is upset that the riots spoiled his first very special party. I'm glad we didn't cancel it. I'm glad I am teaching my children to carry on and be strong. I can understand why others didn't venture out on Tuesday though. There are many road closures on key routes around town so getting around isn't easy and when you have a disabled child or a child with any additional needs things are already tricky enough.

Having paid for a party for 10 children, it did mean that the big sisters, who would have been there more as 'adult helpers' could be big kids for the day and have their own party hats, balloons, pizza and ice-cream. They even had balloon swords each!

While the children played, unaware, the adults were checking facebook, twitter and text messages full of rumours that the riots were starting again. I was sure they were just rumours but you never know. We weren't sure what we'd come out to and it did put a strange atmosphere on things. Everyone at the play centre were feeling the same. It will certainly be a party to remember.

Yesterday, we took a walk around Croydon to see things for ourself. I think it's a pilgrimage most of us in Croydon feel compelled to make. There's a really strange atmosphere in town at the moment. It's quiet with a lot fewer people around than normal but also because people are walking around so quietly, almost in a state of shock and certainly in disbelief. The damage is everywhere. Many shops in the centre of town have been looted, some of the main roads leading into town are closed. There have been six major fires leaving burned out shops and flats, many of which are no longer safe enough to stay standing. I met some amazing people and heard some incredible stories. I will post a picture blog later today.

Hoping everyone is safe

We had a scary night in Croydon last night. You can read about it here  William is really scared. One of his earlier obsessions was 'disasters' including The Great Fire of London so he saw our town burn and was worried it would spread to our house.

Our thoughts are with all our readers caught up or worried about the riots.

Competition Time - win a cuddly 'Mater' from Cars 2

Well, the Summer Holidays are almost half way through. It can be even more challenging juggling the needs of children with disabilities, special needs or in hospital with those of their siblings and still having fun at the same time. How do you manage? We'd love to know the things and places you've found great for your families so we can share them on on here.

One thing we all enjoy together is the cinema (and quite frankly it's been the best thing to do in some of the weather we've been having). So far, we've enjoyed Horrid Henry and Cars 2. I found this wonderful cuddly Mater from Cars 2 hiding at the bottom of my 'goody bag' from the Disney Store Christmas Preview.

To have a chance of winning, all you need to do is leave a comment on this post or on our Facebook page and we'll pick a name out at random at 5pm on Friday. Good Luck!

Lollibop Festival - Like a Glastonbury for little people

If you're looking for an amazing experience to share with your family this weekend and can travel to London you need look no further than The Lollibop Festival at Regent's Park. It's a Glastonbury for little ones where Coldplay and U2 are replaced with the Zingzillas and Rastamouse, compared by CBEEBIES presenters.

The Zingzillas were really good and I found myself singing along.

Sid was there yesterday and we had fun singing the numbers rap with him and learning how to 'beat box.'

The theatre tent 'Lollibopalladium' hosts Charlie and Lola and Horrible Histories and children can meet and greet the likes of Peppa Pig, Bob the Builder and the Waybuloos.

As well as the onstage entertainment are a whole range of crafts and workshops, much too much for one day. You can make badges, jewellery, felt, hero masks, puppets even pizza with Jamie Oliver's 15. There are worshops in clay modelling, football skills, history, science, cheerleeding, DJing, zumba, bollywood, yoga, street dance, high school musical singing.... 

It's £30 on the door or just over £100 for a family but that includes all performances, work-shops and art and crafts.  It's open from 11am - 7pm today and tomorrow. All the information you need is here, including information for disabled visitors. The site is grass but flat and everything is close together. There are viewing platforms and free carers tickets. There are plenty of staff around who were all very helpful with us yesterday.

We had an amazing day. William's highlights were Zingzillas, Horrible Histories, chilling on a hammock while we listened to Rastamouse (who he didn't like at all but Ellie found amusing) and playing on a new Wii game in the media tent (more about that another time). 

Ellie and Wills chose to make some badges and search for gems to make a necklace with. The badges were part of the main crafts and included but the gems were on a private stall and extra cost at £2.50 each, including the necklace, so not bad. Wills made me a beautiful blue pendant and got a back of stones to 'treasure.' Ellie has always loved gem stones so this was one of her highlights.

Lollibop is a great day out but I would recommend a picnic. There is a wide choice of temping food but at prices like £7 for a burger! It may be organic and rare-breed but a bit steep when feeding a family.  

We ended the day with an encounter with some aliens who had lost their space ship - just like Glastonbury, you don't know what you will find!

Two Very Special Birthdays

I'm sorry for the lack of posts over the last few days. I have lots to catch up on and some fantastic ideas to share with you and will be getting back to daily posts again now so watch this space. I've been taking a few days off to celebrate two very special birthdays. Ellie was 12 on Friday and Wills was on Saturday. Where does the time go?

All birthdays are special and often emotional but even more so when there is so much to look back on and so much to be thankful for. William's 7th birthday bought with it a lot of very special firsts. It was actually the first time Wills has spent a birthday at home, well and free of drips and lines. He was well for his fifth birthday but we were away at the British Transplant Games. Last year, Wills was back in Birmingham Children's Hospital for the summer with a 24 hour tummy bug that lasted 8 weeks and took him right back to the beginning of getting his bowel to tolerate feed again. This year, he had a very happy and 'normal' birthday. 

It was the first year I laid all his birthday presents and cards out on the breakfast table, as I do with his sisters. 

It was the first year I got to make him a birthday cake! Others have been made by hospital kitchens or I've bought them in for him, 

It was also the first year William ate some of the cake!

After a morning playing with new toys and sharing cake with one of William's wonderful carers, we went to see Horrid Henry and had lunch in MacDonald's -another first. William ate his first Happy Meal. He said he wanted nuggets and fish fingers and, when I explained that would mean having two happy meals, his response was; "Well I don't see why not, it is my birthday after all." I didn't see why not either if it got him eating, although made it clear it was a birthday treat and he's only be allowed one in future. Wills ate two chicken nuggets and a fish finger - amazing as he's only just started eating that kind of food.

For the first time, Wills is having a birthday party with his friends but that's not until 9th August because his best friend (and girlfriend) is on holiday. I'll share more about birthday parties and the challenge of finding a suitable place to host several children with varying physical special needs then. Finding the venue was a tad stressful to say the least and I don't have the space at home. More on that to come.

It's been an incredible few days and I must admit to some moments of feeling very emotional after all we've been through. I think birthdays can also focus us a little on the uncertainties we face in the future too. Somewhere amidst the fun, joy and excitement, for me it's usually at the end of the day when the children have gone to bed, we find ourselves wondering about how many birthdays we'll share. Will we get to the big ones, like the 18th and 21st? What will the next year bring? Will it be a stable one or are there hiccups on the horizon...? 

Of course, if William's birthdays were disrupted by him being in hospital, so too were Ellie's.

 She has spent most of her birthdays over the last seven years in hospital with us or away from her brother and mum. I've talked on here before about the impact of having a sick sibling. It's especially hard for Ellie as her brother (who, in her eyes gets all the attention all the time) has her birthday the day after hers. This means her birthday feels over very quickly and the focus is immediately on William. Ellie is really feeling the strain of being William's sibling at the moment and so I made sure her day was extra special and there was no preparation for William's day to be done on hers. She had some very special presents, flowers and a surprise trip to the West End to see her favourite show - Wicked. She was well and truly spoiled as she deserved to be.