We’re thrilled to welcome back Lorraine as a guest blogger! We love Weebert’s world and adventures and Lorraine’s amazing story which is hugely inspiring to all military spouses…
For 27 years, I was an army wife – packing, moving, and holding down the fort while my husband was away. My life was measured in school terms, birthdays, and bank holidays – each one a countdown to his return. Military life is a cycle of goodbyes and fresh starts, making me resilient but also leaving me with a question: When would it be my turn?
Like so many military spouses, I juggled everything – raising children, working, studying, and running a household solo during deployments. Each challenge shaped me, but at 60, I knew it was time to forge my own path. I reinvented myself, learning business skills through Barclays Eagle Labs for Military Spouses, Enterprise Nation, and X-Forces Enterprise. These programmes gave me the confidence and tools to turn a lifelong dream into reality.
That dream became Weebert’s World – a place where scrap-metal robots spark children’s imaginations. My husband, Andy, has an incredible gift for transforming discarded materials into whimsical sculptures. Inspired by his creations, I began writing stories about Weebert, a tiny robot with a big heart, who sees the world differently. Weebert takes the ordinary and makes it extraordinary – just like I’ve done with my own journey.
My first book, Weebert Has an Adventure, started as a simple story. Now, we’re working with the BBC Development Team to bring Weebert’s World a step closer to television – something that still feels surreal! My second book, The Adventures of Weebert the Robot: Robots, Chickens, and Dinosaurs, takes Weebert on a time-travel adventure with Albert and Egbert to meet dinosaurs. It’s all about curiosity, discovery, and seeing the world through new eyes – exactly what I want children to experience.
But storytelling doesn’t stop on the page. Determined to bring Weebert to life, I’ve taught myself to create stop-motion animation. I had no experience in filmmaking, but with a camera, persistence, and plenty of trial and error, I built our weebertsworld YouTube channel, where children can watch Weebert’s adventures unfold. There, we also offer free personalised birthday greetings from Weebert, adding a touch of magic to children’s special days.
Like the dandelion, the symbol of military children, Weebert is ready to float on the breeze – discovering new adventures and friendships. His story reflects the resilience of every child who has had to adapt, embrace change, and find excitement in the unknown.
We’ve bootstrapped this journey, fuelled by passion, hard work, and the belief that stories have the power to unlock a child’s imagination. We offer free activity plans and Weebert stories at www.weebertsworld.com, so families can join our adventure.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that it’s never too late to chase your dream. No matter how many times life presses pause, your story is still being written. So, to all the dreamers, the doers, and the military spouses juggling it all – your time is now!
