What does Coca Cola want with a Real Mum?

Somewhat of a crazy week last week, with all kinds of, well, craziness that one could imagine. From one end of the spectrum to another. Ups and Downs and everything in between.

Finished off on Friday with a lovely email that I was convinced was from Nigeria, but, in fact, had a Sydney phone number.

Still, quite frankly, thought it was particularly horrible of someone to send me an email telling me I’d been invited by corporate giant, Coca Cola, to go to Shanghai for a couple of days (without the kids and hubby) and do things like visit the World Fair over there, and learn about Coke’s  new Live Positively platform they are about to lauch.

Nasty, nasty and not at all funny. Particularly as I’m itching to go for a wee on my own. Four days in a totally different country is just … oh, I can’t even imagine what that would feel like.

I came back to it a number of times over the weekend, mentioned to hubby “Haha, some one sent me an email inviting me to Shanghai, all expenses paid.”

To which he, and all the kids who could speak, and, I believe, also the one who couldn’t, all said in unison “GO! When are you going?!”

Nice.

I got the courage to ring on Monday morning and was not only surprised that a real person answered the phone but was actually pleased to hear from me and indicated they were a bit disappointed that I hadn’t called already.

Then proceeded to tell me that I had not only been selected after they’d done some googling and researching and created a list of mums who like to blog and spend far too much time faffing about on social media (my words, not his), then shortlisted that list … then passed it on to Coca Cola (their client) who selected the top 5 … and Diary of a Mad Cow was on that list. I was on it!

I then told him I couldn’t go, because, you know, mum stuff and lots on that week, and other engagements and really sorry.

It wasn’t until I hung up that I realised the impact of what I was being asked! Argh! I had a short discussion with a very good friend, picked the phone up immediately and called them back.

I’m going to Shanghai!

Paid for, without kids and with 4 other mums on the blogsphere … these mums being Annabel from Get In The Hot Spot, Stacey from Sunny Mummy and Brenda from Mummy-Time - and, yes, I can count, that is only three. The fourth one is yet to be announced to us.

We get to check out the World Fair (which the family are now referring to as the Wod Fir … Simpsons reference – sorry!), learn more about the Live Positively platform and Coke’s product innovation and all kinds of fun packed, flat out craziness!

The Live Positively platform for sustainability runs with the slogan Together we can make a positive difference. Quite frankly, I’m honoured and more than a little bit chuffed (ok, so excited I nearly wet my pants, but I blame that on 3 kids and a dodgy pelvic floor, ok?) about being part of the whole process, and part of that “together” bit.

Also quite surprised as didn’t think that many people read Diary of a Mad Cow, so for it to have reached the likes of Coca Cola, well, yes, surprised and impressed.

I’ll be learning more about exactly what the whole thing is about and what we’ll be getting up to in a few weeks time.

For now, I just have to find suitable cupboards to put the kids in for when I’m not around.

I have to stress, too, I didn’t enter any competition to win this, they invited me (feeling SO spesh right now!) and they’re not paying me for this post.

Nope, they’re just paying for me to fly to Shanghai in quite possibly the busiest week of my life, and paying for me to stay there for a couple of nights.

Quite frankly, its about bloody time I got some pay back from them, too. There was a period in my teens where I’m fairly confident I was keeping their global company afloat for quite a few years!

(Am very excited!!!)