The Story of Nadine La Reine

Episode 1

Buckle up, my life has been quite the journey! (so far)

I am a forty (something) woman, which apparently classifies me as ‘middle aged’ – a term which I find hideously unflattering.? The word evokes images of a very frumpy, very boring old lady who wears very sensible shoes, very dull clothes and sips very small glasses of sherry – but only on very special occasions! This is most definitely not me! I love all things that glitter and sparkle like unicorns, mermaids, fairies,? wine & a liberal splashing of gin.? But absolutely NOT with Tonic Water, I take mine with lemonade please!? I actually spent my whole life until very recently thinking that I don’t like gin, when it is in fact the tonic I don’t like the taste of!? I can’t believe this schoolgirl error had led me to living a life deprived of the deliciousness that is pink gin!? I probably like alcohol a little too much if the truth be known! Not in a ‘whisky on your cornflakes’ kind of way, but in a ‘it’s 5 pm somewhere’ kind of way.

Anyway, I don’t feel middle aged in the slightest and I plan on growing old disgracefully and embarrassing my children with my outrageous behaviour as often as I possibly can!

Episode 2

My Small People

They aren’t actually that small anymore - one towers over me and the other is well on the way. My children are awesome. Now, I know every mother thinks that, of course, as every mother absolutely should, after all we did bake them until the optimum moment when they were ready to enter the world.?

Both of my little cherubs have their own very unique set of special requirements. Both have experienced too much pain and suffering than you would want any child to have to deal with. They both have additional needs to be met that are extremely different from one another. They both show courage and resilience in coping with what life has dealt them in a way that makes my heart burst with love and pride. They are my whole world.

It is because of the level of care my children need from me and the desire to do my absolute best for them that led to me becoming self-employed.