I'm finally taking the plunge this year, and attending my first blogging conference. I'm not easing myself gently to a warm bath either, I'm jumping straight into the melting pot head first and have plucked for the biggest blogging event around to make my debut at. I'd nervously contemplated the idea of attending for months and thanks to my lovely sponsors Chiltern Railways I'm going to be making it happen. I'm still nervous naturally, but I'm also equally excited. Attendees of this years event for parent and lifestyle bloggers have been encouraged to take part in a meme, and thus here is mine...

Blog: Dad Creek without a Paddle

Twitter ID: @costyy2k

Height: 5' 11"

Hair: Dark brown and styled to perfection (*cough*). Currently sporting as much hair on my face as on my head and none at all on my back.

Eyes: Dark, brown and secretive. Tell me yours... my eyes will hold onto them. 

Is this your first blogging conference?:

Yes. So if I'm shaking like a dog making a mess in your garden, then treat with the kindness I deserve as a poor man brave enough to attend an event named after females.

Are you attending both days?

Unless I get drunk, lost or kidnapped on the Friday night, then yes, I intend to show up on Saturday too.

What are you most looking forward to at BritMums Live 2015?

I'm really keen to meet a lot of the people I feel like I already know from this fantastic online community and putting a face to the names. I don't just blog, I read a lot of blogs too and I feel like I know so much about so many people that I've not yet had the privelege of meeting. 

What are you wearing?

I'm male. I'll decide when I wake up the day of the event.

What do you hope to gain from Britmums Live?

I really feel like I can gain a lot from it on so many levels. I'm still pretty new to blogging, and very much a self taught novice and so I'm hoping to gain tips, knowledge and technical insight. I'm hoping to gain inspiration from being surrounded by knowledgable, passionate and creative people. Then there's the prospect of making new friends and that's never a bad thing.

Do you have any advice to pass on to others that haven't been before?

Well this is awkward...

If any nice bloggers reading this are going to be there, then please come and say hi. I might look like an unfit Wolverine, but I really am harmless...

Over the last few months especially, we have really fell in love with baby and toddler wearing as a family. We have reaped the benefits of wearing our children - both in the things we can more easily do, and the strengthened bond between parent and child. There are tons of carriers out there, but we have elected a brand called TULA to be the dominant force in our fleet and have already got our hands on 5 of their carriers. Tula has a huge following, and a loyal community that wear, love and chase their products (many of which are limited edition, retired or just plain hard to find). I intend on writing a post all about baby wearing, it's benefits and it's community very soon but for now I wanted to share something a little more personal...

Certain carriers, are difficult to find for what could be a number of reasons and most fans of Tula have what they like to call in their community a 'DISO'. A 'DISO' is a carrier that you are 'desperatley in search of'. Its your holy grail. It's the one carrier that you would trade your entire stash for just to say you own your dream item. My wife had been desperately searching for her DISO and struggling to either find it, afford it or justify it. What she didn't know however, that I too was desperately searching for it and I felt that if I could find it then I could afford it and I could justify it. I found it! Not only did I find it, but I bought it. Not only did I buy it, I kept it a secret until I had my hands on it. This morning, I finished an overnight shift in the office, and went home to wake her up with her dream Tula under my arm. 

For anyone doubting the Tula and baby wearing community... I posted this photo and caption to Facebook. It currently has 4,800 likes and 404 comments just 10 hours later! I feel like a Tula celebrity! The owner of the company liked and commented on the post herself. My phone has been blowing up with Facebook notifications.

'Sorry, but I've been bursting at the seams for over a week to talk to someone about this and now I finally can and this is the only place anyone will understand. I found my wife's DISO! It's a toddler full wrap conversion voyager. I bought it without her knowing. I've just finished an overnight shift in the office and am going home to wake her up with it!'

Here is her reaction! I only wished I'd videoed it. I've bought her many gifts during our time together, and I think of myself as a thoughtful and romantic gift giver... but the tears today were definitely unexpected.