Reasons to be Cheerful: Time to Talk about Mental Health #TimeToTalk #R2BC

This is a very special Reasons to be Cheerful from an extremely proud mum! Very happy to be joining in with Michelle this week. I have one very big reason and all its about my daughter and her campaigning for adequate mental health provision for young people in our area. She had approached our MP Tim Farron about the fact that provision was only 9-5 Monday to Friday and he had campaigned to get this improved. 
As part of the campaign my daughter agreed to be interviewed by BBC North West and they sent a reporter and cameraman to talk to her:

A post shared by Becky Willoughby (@lakessinglemum) on Mar 7, 2018 at 11:15am PST

The Westmorland Gazette had interviewed me before the news broke of improvements being implemented increasing the hours of services for young people. It is still not enough as it will only be 9-1 at the weekend! They spoke to and photographed my daughter to get her reaction too:

I am so proud of my girl for standing up and talking about something that is often kept behind closed doors. If more people spoke about it then maybe more would be done? I am also pleased that the campaign has had some success but it is still a work in progress to improve mental health provision for young people (and adults) not only in South Lakeland but across the country!

My daughter and the Prince

Today was an exciting one for the children of Staveley Primary and the rest of the village as Prince Charles came to visit the Mill Yard and see its little businesses in action. The head teacher had asked for as many children as possible to be there in uniform to greet the prince as he arrived.


We duly arrived well in advance of the scheduled time just as it started to rain! An enthusiastic crowd was already gathering and the rain didn't seem to dampen their anticipation:

Reasons to be Cheerful XVI (#R2BC)

Well after last week's stresses I really need to emphasise the positive and keep on smiling!
1) Academic success
I have had confirmation that I passed my Preparing To Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector certificate. This doesn't qualify me to actually teach but its an initial step giving me the confidence to look into doing a Certificate in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector in the Autumn. It also helps to give me confidence in teaching people to do family history for my Kendal Family History Services.
My son also really enjoyed his 2 taster sessions at his new primary school and I couldn't get him out of his new uniform! Think he is ready for it all so just hope its not too tiring when they start for real on September 7th after 7 weeks of no school...
2) Sorting out my benefits
The real human beings at Kendal Job centre have got me back on the system after the Carlisle office took me off last week. They have said that in future they will fax any documents for me to the DWP so that there is a record of them being sent as things "often' go missing! My MP Tim Farron has written to the Secretary of State to complain about the way I have been treated so I hope that this can stop it happening to people in more vulnerable positions than me.
3) Family fun
I had enough left from my lottery win to treat my kids to their first ever visit to the circus as Circus Vegas are in town this week. We took advantage of the first night cheap tickets and queued for an hour to guarantee ring side seats (a choice I would later regret!). It was a really good mix of things to make you gasp and to make you laugh. At times the looks on my kids' faces was priceless. Of course sitting on the front row we ended up being squirted by the clowns and I ended up with the comedy trampolinist almost on my lap! 

the amazing sword balancing lady - yes that is a dagger in her mouth balancing a sword!

4) My weight

Despite all the stress and still no exercise I actually lost 1/2 a pound this week. A micro step in the right direction and I just need to get myself re-motivated especially with the school holidays coming up..
5) Saying it with flowers
I looked after my parents' house whilst they were on holiday and my mum sent me some gorgeous flowers from Scilly to say thank you:

They have pride of place in my newly sorted kitchen (not completely finished but a whole lot better!) which is another reason I'm cheerful this week!