I never thought I’d be one to complain about an extra holiday, but that was before the volcano dramaramas. Instead of gaining a week, I lost one. All the work planned for the six days we got stuck (which makes it sound as though as though we were in an airport terminal, instead of the rather nice Club Med Hammamet in Tunisia) was out the window. Ditto other stuff, like children’s haircuts, school shoe buying and finally getting around to locating the maternity trousers in a cupboard/bag/wardrobe somewhere in our house. How much my life is planned and organised to the minute surprised me, having previously pinned myself as a freewheelin’ type. Guess there’s only so much spontaneity in a life filled with children, husband, and house overflowing with dirty clothes and washing up.

Which is all a very roundabout way of saying how nice it was to get home. Cup of tea, potter around the garden to take in the new leaves on the lilac, and a couple of loads of washing later, and it felt as though we’d never been away. And, the icing on the cake, a present from the Secret Post Club.

It was sent by blogger Billysu’s. A folder of gorgeous writing paper, a pretty glass-beaded bracelet and a DVD. This very generous lady must know we recently invested in a DVD player (I know, only about seven years too late…).  The film was the Oscar-nominated Fly Away Home, starring The Piano’s Anna Paquin and a bearded Jeff Daniels. Spookily appropriate, don’t you think, as a gift for someone who’d flown home hours before, after worrying all week she and the family wouldn’t be able to for months?

The film is about the star, 14-year-old Amy, falling for a clutch of orphaned geese. Problem is, Amy is the first sentient being they see, so they think she’s their mother. And when winter comes, and the geese have to emigrate south from Canada to warmer climes, there’s no flying version of mum to teach them what to do. So father and daughter take to the skies in a microlight and lead the way.

To add to the tears, at the beginning of the film Amy loses her mother in a car crash. Amy was involved in the same crash, and when her father appears beside her hospital bed, it’s the first time she’s seen him in years. He takes his understandably shocked and silent daughter back to his home in Canada, where he’s living with his new partner. Stepmum isn’t exactly warmly welcomed, and until Amy discovers the geese, it’s all tension and teenage angst.

All comes good, Amy prevents a game warden from clipping the geese’s wings by bombarding him with popcorn, and it’s a visual delight from start to finish.

So thank you, Billysu, for such a lovely welcome home. Now to mop the kitchen floor, catch up on thank you letters (your paper will come in very handy) and stock up the fridge and freezer. I think I need a holiday…

We’re nearly there. Mother’s Day is the one day of the year when we’re almost guaranteed a tiny bit of fuss. Now, a cup of tea in bed is all well and good, but how about forwarding a few of these present ideas to teenies or dad? Here are some of our favourites.

I’d be thrilled to receive a Lily Belle Family Bracelet. Created in hammered silver, with simple round charms engraved with a single letter. It doesn’t shriek, ‘Look at me, I’ve got children’,  but glints prettily from your wrist. Only you know that the charms bear the initials of your brood. From £41 for a bracelet with two charms at Lily Belle.

I don’t know about you, but I keep a couple of slightly dog-eared photographs in my wallet. Much nicer to give them a home they deserve. The Handpicked Collection has two versions of a ‘boasting envelope‘. The eco-friendly recycled  leather (shown letter) costs £12.95, and a smarter version includes a gift box for £22.95. I’m also a fan of their Art File & Frames (from £14.95 for a single), a great way to adorn walls and keep the house nice and tidy.

I discovered EVY Designs on Twitter, had a browse on her website, and immediately ordered a pair of earrings. Within a couple of days I received my beautifully boxed jewellery, presented with chocolates, a hand-written card thanking me for my order, and a couple of herbal tisane bags. Great customer service, lovely products, personal touches galore.  And great value, too.

Luxury boutique hotel specialists Mr & Mrs Smith offer Get a Room! gift vouchers starting at £50. So if it’s a big year for mum, you could join forces with the rest of the clan and get her started on a well-earned weekend away.

London mums, and their children aged seven and up, can sign up for MillaMia’s two Mother’s Day special knitting classes, 13 and 14 March at MillaMia Studio, 32 Bolton Gardens, London SW5 (08450 17 74 74). During the two-hour session you’ll learn the basics of casting on, the knit stitch, purl stitch and casting off, and will be sent home with a MillaMia Beginner’s Scarf Kit, further practice yarn, and instruction materials. The courses cost £40 a session, including as much cake and tea as you can cram in. Solo adults are welcome to attend. 

I’ve written about Longchamp’s Your Very Own Le Pliage before, and am still a fan. These covetable and useful bags can now be personalised with your choice of colour, handle length and even the colour of the famous logo. You can also add initials. Prices start at around £25 for a coin purse. What’s not to like?

How about a SpaFinder voucher? There are over 1,000 places where these can be redeemed nationwide, and a pleasure deferred is anything but a pleasure denied. We’ll soon (please) be out of winter hibernation, and a pedicure to look forward to would put a spring in anyone’s step.

Postable presents at Dough Dough start at £4.99 for a letterbox friendly brownie, including postage, wrapping and a gift card with personalised message. Mother’s Day gifts include an I Love You cookie card for £5.99 and a Cookie Bouquet for £34.99.