KATIE BULMER-COOKE: Can't wait for summer break!

As I write my column this week, I've just got back home from filming some more episodes of Chatty Lasses. If you haven't seen the show, it's a really down to earth, female chat show packed with opinion, debate and of course some girly gossip, on Made in Tyne and Wear.

We are currently filming episodes that will be aired at the same time as the Euros are on, to give the non-football lovers a TV alternative.

I’m absolutely over the moon that we will be shown across the Made TV national network and that a show that started as a little idea in my head is now really growing.

I always have a great laugh filming the show, but tonight was extra funny. We had my mam on as a guest and boy did she dish the dirt on me!

She told the other girls on the panel about my terrible fashion sense as a teenager and even brought the photographs to prove it (does anyone remember wearing black tights with big, white doily style socks over the top for school?) But she didn’t stop there. She went on to tell the viewers that I hadn’t always planned to have a career in fitness and on the telly box, in fact for years I wanted to be a body guard. Yes, that’s right, as a skinny thirteen year old, who is still scared of the dark to this day, I wanted to be a body guard.

After the cameras were turned off and we drove home I really started to think about how much I love my work.

It’s fair to say that the phrase ‘if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life’ is definitely true for me, and I’m extremely grateful.

I’ve absolutely loved the half term holidays, and despite being a bit under the weather, me and Heidi have done some pretty cool things. First off was a trip to the cinema to see Alice Through The Looking Glass, which although it’s had mixed reviews in the press, was a big hit with us Cooke girls.

When we drove up to Empire Cinema, I really noticed that that area of the town (I still call it the town, even though it’s officially ‘the city centre’) is definitely on the up. The parking options are much improved, there is a good choice of places to eat and there are plenty of activities to choose from, with the cinema, bowling alley and the fabulous Katie’s Garden.

If you’re after entertainment and eating then its totally the place to be.

We’ve had such a fun time these holidays, that even though it’s tough juggling my business and having time with Heidi, I really don’t want her to go back to school.

Towards the end of the week I bumped into someone I know while we were out and about, who said to me ‘eee I can’t wait to get the kids back to school, I bet you can’t either.’

I can never get my head round it when people say this.

I live for the school holidays, especially now Heidi is such a cool age, she’s like my little best mate, so I’m already counting down the days to the big summer break!