Sticky Fingers

The Photo Gallery: Week 131

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 21:00:00 +0000

Hello and welcome to week 131 of The Gallery.

You know sometimes you capture that shot; the one that makes you catch your breath because, by golly, it captures the person you were photographing PERFECTLY.
Well, here is your chance to showcase it.
This week's theme is one for old and new photos for sure, for the Gallery theme is: Girls.

Bet you can't guess what I'm going to pick for next week's theme . . . !

As usual, interpret the theme any way you like. New thing, new joy, new feelings, new house, new baby, new snow (although I'm SO hoping that last one doesn't come to be over this weekend!)

NEW HERE? NOT SURE HOW TO ENTER?

If you're new here and want to find out what The Gallery is all about and how to enter visit here.

And if you want to make sure you don't miss any prompts or entries in future, make sure you subscribe and get all prompts delivered directly to your in box.

Go on, clicky click away, you know you want to ...

If you want to join in with The Gallery and showcase your photos, come back on Wednesday and when my Gallery post goes live, add a link to your post on the Linky below mine.

The link stays open until the following Tuesday, so you have plenty of time to join in.

Remember, The Gallery isn't about technically brilliant photos. It's about rediscovering photos; both old and new.

It's about sparking your imagination, being inspiring - and inspiring others.

And absolutely ANYONE can join in.

Also, if you're linking up to The Gallery then try to visit as many of the other entries as you can to see what they've come up with. Say hi, discover new people, welcome them in when they discover you.

You will get out of this what you put into it.

The Photo Gallery: Noses

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 08:00:00 +0000

Hands up who's looking at this photo and thinking "Oh my goodness, that's Richard Parker! Those whiskers. Those eyes. That nose".
No? Then you clearly haven't read The Life of Pi. Or been to the cinema to see the movie version of the book.
I have done both and whatever you think of the book or the film or the adaptation, there is no denying that the character of the Bengal tiger shipwrecked on a lifeboat with a frightened young man, is one that stays with you. Plays with your mind. Makes you question everything about it.
My favourite sort of book.

This post is for for week 130 of The Gallery: Noses. This week Red Nose Day is marking 25 years of fundraising and making changes.
I remember the first Red Nose Day. The year after I left school. Yes I am THAT old, thank you at the back. And to mark the anniversary, three UK bloggers travelled to Africa with Comic Relief to see where all the money goes.

So this post is for TeamHonk and if you're joining in and want to spread the word even further, share your post on Twitter with the hashtag #goodwork

And by the way, this tiger isn't Richard Parker. He was a rather handsome fellow at Busch Gardens in Florida that I met nearly three years ago.

If you're new and want to know what The Gallery is, go and read here , and then come right back and join in!
You can also pick up The Gallery code if you want too.
And you could also subscribe to make sure you never miss a theme, which are posted here every Friday.

Now go forth and show some big blog love. Visit other bloggers, comment on their post if you feel moved to do so, and be inspired.
This virtual gallery of photographs is about enjoying each other's work, so go make someone's day. You will get out of this whatever you put in.

The link stays open until Tuesday so you have plenty of time to join in.
And absolutely ANYONE can join in.

The Photo Gallery: Week 130. The Comic Relief edition

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 07:30:00 +0000

Hello and welcome to week 130 of The Gallery.
This week we're joining in with something really quite special.
If you live in the UK, come March time there will be a huge swell of support for Comic Relief. Red Nose Day.
The charity which invites you to do something funny for money and raise cash for good causes in the UK and Africa.

We're used to seeing celebrities promoting their work, but this weekend three UK parenting bloggers will be travelling to Ghana in Africa to spend 48 hours with Comic Relief - live blogging and tweeting as they discover just what it is the charity has been doing with all the donations they've received over the past 25 years of Red Nose Day events.
It's a pretty Big Thing for them. They have a huge responsibility on their shoulders. To spread the word. To use their voices for good. To shout loudly and passionately.

They are going to be awesome.
And I'd like The Gallery to show it's support for this cause, get get right behind the initiative and ROAR too.
So, today's new Gallery theme is, unsurprisingly: Noses.

As always, interpret the theme any way you like but make it LOUD!
The bloggers setting off on this adenture are Mummy Barrow, Mammasaurus and Aresidence
All updates on their trip will be on their collaborative site Team Honk. Please do try to visit.
You can also follow the official Red Nose Day Tweets, like the Red Nose Facebook page or follow them on Instagram.

NEW HERE? NOT SURE HOW TO ENTER?

If you're new here and want to find out what The Gallery is all about and how to enter visit here.

And if you want to make sure you don't miss any prompts or entries in future, make sure you subscribe and get all prompts delivered directly to your in box.

Go on, clicky click away, you know you want to ...

If you want to join in with The Gallery come back on Wednesday and when my Gallery post goes live, add a link to your post on the Linky below mine.
The link stays open until the following Tuesday, so you have plenty of time to join in.
And absolutely ANYONE can join in.

Also, if you're linking up to The Gallery then try to visit as many of the other entries as you can to see what they've come up with. Say hi, discover new people, welcome them in when they discover you.

You will get out of this what you put into it.

The Photo Gallery: Bond

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 07:30:00 +0000

I have about a million photographs like this of Mia and Ronin.
Since the day that dog came into our lives, just over a year ago, the two have been inseparable. She chats with him, teases him, trains him, hides him in her bedroom (where he's not allowed), spoils him, sits in his bed with him and reads him stories.
He just looks up at her with those beautiful amber eyes and radiates adoration.
The sort of bond childhoods are made of.

This post is for for week 129 of The Gallery: Bond.
If you're new and want to know what The Gallery is, go and read here , and then come right back and join in!
You can also pick up The Gallery code if you want too.
And you could also subscribe to make sure you never miss a theme, which are posted here every Friday.

Now go forth and show some big blog love. Visit other bloggers, comment on their post if you feel moved to do so, and be inspired.
This virtual gallery of photographs is about enjoying each other's work, so go make someone's day. You will get out of this whatever you put in.

The link stays open until Tuesday so you have plenty of time to join in.
And absolutely ANYONE can join in.

The Photo Gallery: Week 129

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 14:25:00 +0000

Hello and welcome to week 129 of The Gallery.
I'll keep things short and to the point this week because we're all busy and my central heating has packed in so I'm sat here with numb fingers as I type this!

Today's new Gallery theme is: Bond.
No, not as in James. I'm talking the sort of bond siblings have, or your child and a friend, or you and a friend, or indeed you and your other half.
I'm talking about the sort of ties that last generations, miles and all manner of obstacles.
But, as always, interpret the theme any way you like.

NEW HERE? NOT SURE HOW TO ENTER?

If you're new here and want to find out what The Gallery is all about and how to enter visit here.

And if you want to make sure you don't miss any prompts or entries in future, make sure you subscribe and get all prompts delivered directly to your in box.

Go on, clicky click away, you know you want to ...

If you want to join in with The Gallery and showcase your photos, come back on Wednesday and when my Gallery post goes live, add a link to your post on the Linky below mine.
The link stays open until the following Tuesday, so you have plenty of time to join in.
Remember, The Gallery isn't about technically brilliant photos. It's about rediscovering photos; both old and new.
It's about sparking your imagination, being inspiring - and inspiring others.
And absolutely ANYONE can join in.

Also, if you're linking up to The Gallery then try to visit as many of the other entries as you can to see what they've come up with. Say hi, discover new people, welcome them in when they discover you.

You will get out of this what you put into it.

The Photo Gallery: Adventure

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 08:00:00 +0000

When I was 10 I would ride my bike to the fields near our house, through the estate we lived on, through the alleyway - a good 20 minute cycle for my young legs - and there I would hang out in the long grass, far away from grown ups and rules and clockwatching.
To be honest, the best part of this escape was the journey. Feeling free and able to move at my own pace.
Another one of my favourite pastimes was walking into the woods near our home and 'getting lost'. I would pretend that the gnarled trees and leaf-strewn walkways were straight out of Fangorn Forest (Lord of the Rings fans) and I had to find a way home before some woodland creature with evil intent found me. I had a vivid imagination!

Now I have a 10 year old of my own, I wonder if he has that same sense of adventure? Does he pine to ride off on his bike with the wind in his hair? Or wander through the forest role playing his current read?
Because, I don't know about you, but there is NO WAY he has the freedom I had as a child.
And so I have made it my mission to instil my children with their own sense of adventure. To encourage them to climb and explore and dig and collect and run like the wind is at their backs. And to get as muddy as they like in the process.

Because I hope that they will look back on their own childhood one day with the same fond memories I have.
NB: I cannot believe my kids were EVER this small! Taken 5 years ago in the very same woods I used to pretend were straight out of the pages of Lord of the Rings.

This post is for for week 128 of The Gallery: Adventure.
If you're new and want to know what The Gallery is, go and read here , and then come right back and join in!
You can also pick up The Gallery code if you want too.
And you could also subscribe to make sure you never miss a theme, which are posted here every Friday.

Now go forth and show some big blog love. Visit other bloggers, comment on their post if you feel moved to do so, and be inspired.
This virtual gallery of photographs is about enjoying each other's work, so go make someone's day. You will get out of this whatever you put in.

The link stays open until Tuesday so you have plenty of time to join in.
And absolutely ANYONE can join in.

Battle of the duvets

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 09:30:00 +0000

I have a thing about bedding. It comes from my mother who has rather a fetish about duvet covers and throws and has been known to make her own amazing creations.

But a duvet, a great duvet, is a must.

You're under it for an awful lot of your day. You have to crawl under it at the end of every day - be it from sheer exhaustion or a sensible early night.
It can soothe you when you're poorly, make you feel great of a weekend when you can turn over, tuck a corner under your chin and go back to sleep. For yes, dear reader, I have older children now and lie ins are allowed. A little ray of hope there from me to you if you have younger children.

So recently we have been lucky enough to have been sent two very different types of natural duvets to try out.

Sense of Nature Silk Duvet
So what's so special about it? Well, it's filled with silk fibres and because it's natural it is supposed to help regulate your body temperature and help those people with asthma or allergies sleep more comfortably. All of which I love the sound of. AND on top of that, you can throw it in the washing machine. Big bonus.
Truth be told, it just doesn't look thick enough to keep you warm. It's really thin and and looks more like a padded throw than a full-on duvet.
However, looks can be deceptive and it certainly does keep you warm.
The big downside for me is that it just doesn't look cosy enough on our bed. I like to walk in our room and to be greeted by a poofy bed that looks like it's a giant cloud waiting for me to climb into.
What? Doesn't everyone imagine that before getting into bed? Well you should.
Also, unless you really do suffer with allergies and that's a big consideration for you, the price tag could prove another stumbling block - prices start at about £95 for a single, rising to around £175 for a superking.

Fine Bedding Company, Goose Feather & Down Duvet
Our second review duvet came from Palmers online Department store, who sent us this feather duvet. And at £100 for a superking it's already ticking all my boxes.
Crisp, cotton cover, pocketed to ensure the feathers don't all bunch up over husband's side of the bed and it looks great on our bed.
Winner.

Of course, the only way to truly judge a duvet is in a Duvet Fight.
I asked the kids if they'd be up for helping me with this review by letting me film a little snippet and I swear to you they played this game for another 40 minutes after I'd finished.
So there you go, a cheap form of entertainment when the weather is too rubbish to go out!

The Photo Gallery: Week 128

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 20:22:00 +0000

Hello and welcome to week 128 of The Gallery.
We rarely do resolutions in this house, it's not a tradition I'm particularly keen to pass on. I'd rather we kept changing and improving our lives as we go through then rather than wait until the start of yet another year.
But one thing we're keen to do more of this year is to get outside, get active, get lots of fresh air in our lungs.

And so, to celebrate this, today's Gallery theme is: Adventure.

As usual, interpret the theme any way you like. New adventures, old adventures, things to look forward to, things you're in the middle of, things you want to look forward to.
Share your great adventure with us.

NEW HERE? NOT SURE HOW TO ENTER?

If you're new here and want to find out what The Gallery is all about and how to enter visit here.

And if you want to make sure you don't miss any prompts or entries in future, make sure you subscribe and get all prompts delivered directly to your in box.

Go on, clicky click away, you know you want to ...

You will get out of this what you put into it.

The new Google Chromebook. And homework

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 11:30:00 +0000

Just four months ago, our 10 year old started middle school.
It meant he had to wear a school tie for the first time, discipline went up a notch and he had to wander the corridors of a huge building where he knew no one.
Everything was new and daunting and I probably had just as many butterflies as he did.
But he handled it brilliantly. Far better than I gave him credit for and he is positively blossoming there.

The other thing that changed was homework. Lots and lots and lots of homework. Some homework which needs to be completed overnight, ready for the next day.
Research, projects, checking facts, finding pictures.
I know there are many arguments abound about the amount of homework children are given, but this isn't one of those posts. Dan is 10 and his studying is moving up a notch and homework is all good as far as we're concerned. He needs to keep his mind active and not just via his current favourite game on the iPod.

So when I was asked if I'd like to have and review the new Google Chromebook I thought of my boy and his homework and of the opportunity of him not taking over my computer all the live long day!

This is the face of one happy young man. His very own laptop. It's actually more of a netbook really. It slips perfectly into a backpack and despite being light and easy to handle, has a quality feel about it. The keys are a decent size so you don't end up typing the wrong thing all the time as your fingertips slip off the keys. The touchpad is also really easy to use and a decent size considering the side of the device.
The screen is OK, however in this age of retina displays and mega-high resolutions it's never going to compete. BUT, for what Dan wants to use it for, it's perfect.
It has ports for an SD card and earphones, together with two USB slots (these are at the back of the device, which does prove a bit fiddly as we're used to them being on the side).

Dan has used it a lot over the past few weeks. Mainly Google searches and browsing the internet. He's watched quite a few YouTube videos (he's a movie trailer fan - NO idea where he got that from *ahem*). But he sits with it at the kitchen table, or at his desk in his room, or easily propped up his knees while he lies on his bed, which he thinks is SO cool!

So that's how the hardware stacks up, but what about the gubbins behind the silver-clad gloss?
The main thing to note is that the Chromebook only runs the Google Chrome operating system. You can't upload any software on here - for example Microsoft Office - other than what you can find on the Google Web Store.
The best thing for a 10 year old is the minute you open the screen, it's ready to go.
I had to create a Google account for him, but once done, every time you open the screen up it's instantly good to go once you put your password in.
No faffing around waiting for it to load.

So is the Chromebook for you? Here's what you need to know.

It's cheap. Very cheap given what you get (about £229).
It's very light and easy to carry around. Perfect for throwing in your bag to travel with.
It's fast and quiet and the battery life lasts for ages (about 6 hours).
It runs via WiFi only - no 3G.
It's very secure apparently because it runs off it's own web browser. So pretty low maintenance and very attractive to parents who want a laptop for their children.
If you live by Google Apps - gmail, docs, calendar etc - it's so up your street.
Here's Google's YouTube video with more details on the Chromebook.

Personally I think it's a great machine for students, for light users and for those who like to throw their laptop in a bag, go off to a coffee shop and browse. Provided the coffee shop has WiFi, obviously.

It's essentially for browsing the web, writing Google documents, emailing and checking your Facebook updates (though, obviously not for my 10 year old!)

The Photo Gallery: New

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 08:00:00 +0000

Mia has never been one for so called 'girl' activities.
I asked her once if she fancied joining the same dance class as her friend. She looked me up and down with utter distain and declared: "That's for girls". The 'that' she almost spat out.

Then over Christmas she woke up one morning and announced she wanted to play rugby.
She spent an afternoon rooting through her older brother's kit, finding something suitable to wear on a cold, wind-swept pitch and all the while husband and I gave each other 'The Look' which said we'll give her until the temperature drops below 5 degrees and she wants to race around the clubhouse like a carthorse with her buddies, like she usually does.

On the day of her first training session she woke up at 4am, got herself dressed into all her kit, realised that she had got up too early and so went back to bed.
I found her fast asleep under her duvet, with her red rugby socks on that are too big for her, her brother's spare under-armour and clutching a beanie hat in her fingers.
It's quite possibly the cutest thing I have ever seen.

One week later and she played in her first match. And this is the smile she had on her face for pretty much the whole morning as she played in sub zero temperatures with a group of boys she barely knows.
I really do think we may have found her 'thing'!

This post is for for week 126 of The Gallery: New.
If you're new and want to know what The Gallery is, go and read here , and then come right back and join in!
You can also pick up The Gallery code if you want too.
And you could also subscribe to make sure you never miss a theme, which are posted here every Friday.

Now go forth and show some big blog love. Visit other bloggers, comment on their post if you feel moved to do so, and be inspired.
This virtual gallery of photographs is about enjoying each other's work, so go make someone's day. You will get out of this whatever you put in.

The link stays open until Tuesday so you have plenty of time to join in.
And absolutely ANYONE can join in.

The Photo Gallery: Week 127

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 13:16:00 +0000

Hello and welcome to week 127 of The Gallery.
We took a little break over Christmas. My intention was to take lots and lots of new photos and get stuck behind that camera.
But in fact I did the opposite. I hardly took any photos and enjoyed just being with my family. And I'm sure they appreciated not having a camera lens stuck in their faces all the live long day!

So, The Gallery is back and raring to go. If you had new cameras or phones or have made New Year's Resolutions to think more about your photographs, this is the place for you.
Of course, if you've got old photos and an old, trusty camera, this is also the place for you!

Today's Gallery theme is: New.

As usual, interpret the theme any way you like. New thing, new joy, new feelings, new house, new baby, new snow (although I'm SO hoping that last one doesn't come to be over this weekend!)

NEW HERE? NOT SURE HOW TO ENTER?

If you're new here and want to find out what The Gallery is all about and how to enter visit here.

And if you want to make sure you don't miss any prompts or entries in future, make sure you subscribe and get all prompts delivered directly to your in box.

Go on, clicky click away, you know you want to ...

You will get out of this what you put into it.

Anniversary

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 17:57:00 +0000

This is the stunning sight that greeted me as I stepped out of the car to walk the dog this morning.
Sure it's cold and damp and pretty grim in here in the UK at the moment, but owning a dog means I have a reason to get into the car and drive to the woods. And enjoy this sort of scenery.
Sure I'm wrapped up in a million layers and look a state in my (never cleaned) wellies and 'dog walking' fleece.
But just look. I had this all to myself this morning. Not another soul to be seen.

This man came into our lives one year ago this week and he has been everything we could have hoped for in a dog and more.
At the time of me writing this gushing post, he's stood here with his head perched on my hand as I'm trying to type, looking up at me with the most loving eyes.
My kids NEVER do that!
And to think I actually questioned whether we should even get a dog . . . .!

Sticky Fingers: Our 2012 in pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 16:31:00 +0000

A little bit late, but to be honest I've been enjoying the time with the children while they're off school for the remainder of the Christmas break.
The blog comes waaaaay down the priority list.

So here is our 2012 in photographs. Of course, the main BIG thing is we got a dog and he changed our lives; like totally changed our lives.
But we hung out with friends a lot, met new friends, visited old friends - it's always been a big thing for me to ensure our children are a social pair and mix with as many people as they can in preparation for that big old world out there.

Thanks to all who visited this blog, who hung out here and made my day.
Wishing you all a happy and healthy 2013.

The Tara Lara Diary

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 23:00:00 +0000

I was sent one of these planners last year and it has been one of my constant companions.
Right here at my desk, there by my left hand.
Sure I have an iPhone and many other ways to electronically store my everyday diary dates. And by 'my' I mean the kids' various after school activities, parties, get togethers etc. Very few things me 'me'. Sob.
But I'm old school, I like to write it down. I like to see it there in black and white; the whole week just a glance to my left.
And so once again in 2013 I will entering the year with another Personal Planner - this time I've opted for lilac . . .

I love that you are able to totally personalise it - from the front page and the colour of the page marker, to the design of the weekly pages and the prompts on each page. The paper quality is top notch too.
This year they're cheaper too, £14.99 for the size I've had upto £21.99 for the large desk planner.
I cannot recommend them highly enough. For 'old schoolers' like me!

Merry Christmas to one and all

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 13:27:00 +0000

Sending all the readers and visitors to this blog seasonal hugs and kisses and wishing every one of you a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your time and for continuing to visit and for making this blog still a great place to hang out 4 years down the line.
See you all in 2013 x

What to buy a 7 year old girl for Christmas. According to a 7 year old girl

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 15:00:00 +0000

On Friday I shared some ideas for what to buy a 10 year old boy for Christmas.
So today it's my daughter's turn to give some ideas of what to buy a 7 year old girl.
She has been busy in the Sticky Fingers sweat factory, testing out stuff that has been sent to us to review. Really is a tough job, but she's totally up for it.

So here are some of Mia's suggestions in case you're stuck for some last minute buys.

Heelys, from £49.99
Mia has been given the crappiest pair of plastic 'roller skates' you've ever seen and she rolls around all the live long day in them because clearly the reason mum and dad had wooden floors fitted throughout the downstairs of the house was so she could use it as a skate park.

So when we were offered a pair of these - funky trainers with heels in the heels - to review I pretty much snapped their hand off.
They look great but take quite a bit of getting used to. Mia isn't quite there (I was going to video her on them for this review but she flat refused to let me until she's much better at it!)
Mia's verdict: "I love them. They fit really well. I just wish I could skate on them better but I'm going to keep trying. I'm fed up of falling on my bum all the time!"

Playmobil, from £5.99
Dan is the family Lego fanatic, Mia is our Playmobil fanatic.
She has a whole range of sets now (all the animal-themed ones to be fair - she's slightly obsessed) and I can honestly say they are the most played with toy she owns. And she's played with them for a good 3 years.
As official Playmobil reviewers, our latest sets have been this gorgeous farm house (£49.99) and a range of farm sets - Pig Pen (£13.99), Bunny Hutch (£8.99), Calf Feeder (£8.99), Dog House (£5.99) and Cats and Kittens (£5.99).
Unfortunately it means I've lost my dining room table . . .

(Spot the rogue Spongebob Lego sneaking into the picture!)
The smaller sets are fantastic stocking fillers, but I must say the larger sets do take some adult supervision to build, as they can be quite fiddly. But once they're up it's a cracking toy. And yes, I speak from personal experience. Ahem.
Mia's verdict: "Mum gets quite cross with me when I mix up the sets but I like that all the sets can mix in with the others and the chickens can sit on the balcony if I want them to! I built all the smaller sets by myself without anyone's help".

Mancala, £8.95
Not something we were sent to review, but a birthday gift Mia received this year and she is everso slightly obsessed with it!
It's a really old 'board' game, in which you have to move small animal-shaped 'bead's around the board and requires thought, logic and counting skills. The idea is to gather as many of the beads as you can and clear your side of the board before your opponent does.
Mia picked it up pretty much straight away and it's now one of her 'bedtime games'.
A really cracking family game that doesn't require dice or characters or a booklet of rules.
Mia's verdict: "I really love this game. We'd never heard of it before my friend gave it to me for my birthday, and we play a lot of games, but this is definitely one of our favourites now."

Bayliss and Harding, Beauticology range, from £3
I visited the head offices of Bayliss and Harding recently and discovered that this brand that I've been using for years to make my downstairs loo look posh with their lovely handwash, is in fact entirely British.
Not only that, the company is run by a lovely brother and sister team, whose parents set up the brand in the very heart of Birmingham - and they haven's strayed far since.
Their ethos is 'affordable luxury' (which incidentally they do in part through keeping their overheads low so you don't pay through the nose because they're lording it in fancy pants offices) and I just love their Beauticology range which is perfect for young girls.
I gave this Gingerbread Shower Creme to Mia, which comes in the most delightful packaging and has the lovely scent of gingerbread - really Christmassy.

Polar Express, £7.75
Everyone should have this movie in their collection. It should be made The Law.
And everyone should get it out and watch it at Christmas time. Great feel-good factor and for any children on the verge of sussing out that Santa might not be the one leaving all the presents under the tree, this is sure to get them back on track again.

.

What to buy a 10 year old for Christmas. According to a 10 year old

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 19:00:00 +0000

If you run a parenting blog and a whole host of exciting stuff to review lands on the doormat just as your son turns 10, you win BIG brownie points.
I can do no wrong at the moment.

So I asked him to round up his favourites from the things he's been sent to review recently to give a sort of guide to what to buy notoriously difficult to buy for pre-teens!
For those last minute buys if you're tearing your hair out this weekend!

Skylanders Giants, starter pack for the Wii, £49.99
Skylanders have already taken over our home, and when the new Giants came out Dan actually had a countdown to the day they were released.
It's a cracking idea - little characters come to life on your computer game when placed on the 'Portal of Power' - only this time they're bigger characters. And of course that means they're more expensive characters too (about £15 each when bought individually).
This time around you have to plug the Portal of Power into the back of your Wii (the previous Skylanders had a remote dongle you could plug in for wireless play).
Dan's verdict: "So awesome. I love the characters and their new powers are really great. I've asked Santa for another character too"

Kids Baz Bag, £44.99

For his birthday this year, we gave Dan's room a make over. New desk and chair in there, funky new pictures on the wall, map of the world instead of wallpaper.

And a bean bag was right up there on his wish list. Something he could sit on and read a book or play on his DS or just chill out.

We were sent this great indoor/outdoor children's bean bag to review by Bean Bag Bazaar and as you can see it's well loved!
Dan's verdict: "I love this style because it means I can store it under my bed when I'm not using it so it doesn't take up too much space in my room. Also you can sit on it in lots of different ways and it's good for wrestling on . . . "

Lego, various, from £1.99
Can you beat Lego for a Christmas gift? I think not. Even at the age of 10 Dan is still a HUGE fan. Probably helps that his mum loves building it with him *ahem*.

The Mini Figure packs are fabulous stocking fillers for Lego fans and we have one of their board games every year to all crowd around the dining table to play together.

This year we've been sent this fabulous box of goodies from Lego to try out; From Lord of the Rings and Superhero sets, to a board game and, of course, the mini figures.

Dan's verdict: "Wow wow wow. I love the Lord of the Rings Lego as I'm just reading the Hobbit now. I cannot WAIT to start building these. And the board games are really good. I've already got Creationary and Shave a Sheep and I love those."

The Dark Knight Rises (12), approx £10

For a family of superhero nerds, it doesn't get much better than this. Turn the lights off in the living room, fill a giant bowl with popcorn and all huddle up on one sofa together under one blanket.
For yes, even my 7 year old daughter sat riveted through the whole of this film. She's also just discovered James Bond - she is SO my daughter!

Dan's verdict: "I LOVE this film. I love the action and the adventure but most of all I like Batman. He is SO cool. It is a little bit scary in parts, but I think that's why I like it so much."

Air Hogs Hover Assault Remote Control, currently on offer at £39.99 from The Entertainer

A remote controlled vehicle that can drive, jump AND fly? Wowzers, a proper Boy Toy! To be honest I've had trouble keeping the husband from stealing it.
It's a car, it's a helicopter and it fires missiles. It fires missiles while in the air. Dan nearly fainted when he realised it could do that!
Lots of fun - if a bit on the expensive side. But for gadget fans it's a must have.
Dan says: "It's a lot smaller than I thought it would be but it's SO much fun. I found it really difficult to get it to fly, or hover, but I haven't played with it very much, so I think it will take practice. But it fires missiles while in the air. SO COOL."

Camping in November Featherdown Farm style

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 22:20:00 +0000

Yes, you're right, utter madness. Camping in November? WHAT were we thinking?
I think I can pretty much sum up our week as hard work, cold and utterly relentless - but the most amazing family experience we've every had.
Featherdown Farm holidays are all about switching off, going off-grid, back to basics. Living like the Waltons.
Sort of.
And we loved it. Really, really loved it.

Featherdown Farms invited us to visit during the summer holidays, but we just didn't have the time to take them up on their offer to review their breaks. And so we plumped for the autumn half term; end of October, creeping over into November.
We just needed to get away as a family. We needed to chill out and reconnect and be together.
For me the best gauge for how good a holiday was is whether we would pay to go back again.

Featherdown Farm holidays are not cheap. And despite the 'glamping' label it finds itself with, this was about as far removed from glamorous camping we've ever been. And we've camped a lot.
Sure you get duvets and actual beds and a dining table and chairs. And a sort of fridge coolbox thing. And a flushing loo.
But, you are in the middle of a farmers' field. There is no electric hook up and that means candlelight, no phones or gadgets, no heating. Nada.
Heat comes from the stove in your tent. For which you have to fetch the wood every day.
There is running water, but any hot water comes from heating the huge kettle on the stove once it has reached a certain heat.
Food is basic and, again, comes from cooking on the top of your stove.
You do everything by candlelight. And let me tell you, cooking and indeed washing up by candlelight is near impossible.

But here's the thing.
We played Monopoly for four hours straight. Sat right there at our farmhouse table and laughed and gnashed teeth and accused each other of cheating and played it right through from beginning to end.
We played card games. Endless card games. Taught each other new ones, played old favourites.
We took it in turns lighting and stoking the stove; newspaper, kindling, logs.
The children took themselves up to the farm's 'honesty' shop to fetch provisions and extra candles. They had to write down what they had taken, together with the cost, so we could tot up how much we owed at the end of the week.
We went for long walks. Got lost. Moaned a bit about being lost. But kept on walking; over fields, down country lanes, over stiles, through trees. And then we came back to our tent, lit the stove and sat around it with a hot chocolate and rosy cheeks.

The children slept in the cabin bed together, despite there being enough space for them to have their own rooms. They locked themselves in their little nest, made up games, sang songs, read to each other, giggled and made my husband and I sit and just smile at each other.

We spent a week (Monday to Friday) at Readyfields Farm in Nottinghamshire.
The farm is home to a huge troop of Bloodhounds as well as sheep, cows - and donkeys!
Unfortunately, the time of year we visited meant we didn't really get to experience much farm life. It was too darn cold!
So, as always, I'll let the photos do the talking as they can reveal much more of the story than mere words:

The Farm

Inside the tent

Out and about

So would we go back?
It's not cheap to stay there. Plus you have to work - make your beds, fetch logs, build fires (although I think husband turned that into a new hobby), clean up after yourselves.
But yes, absolutely we'd go back. Maybe next time we'll try it in the warmer months though!
.

The Photo Gallery: It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Every year Santa gives both of my children a decoration to add to the Christmas tree in their stockings.
It has become a bit of a tradition. We've had fairies, bells, mushrooms and woodland creatures. Figures made out of tin, some fashioned from wool and some sparkly, bling.
He thinks long and hard about what decoration to buy them that year; what will make them smile and put a twinkle in their eye as they hang it on a branch on the family tree?
And as they get older, it gets even harder to choose. 10 going on 15. Too cool for school, but not too cool to still believe.
What it does mean is that our Christmas tree now tells a story of past holidays; remember the year when you got the bell with your name on it? That was the year we first went to see Polar Express in 3D and granddad got a headache from the 3D glasses. Remember the year you got the wool cat and you got all upset because you thought Santa had forgotten you but it was right down in the toe of your stocking all along?

Do you have Christmas traditions? I bet you have some and you don't even realise they are 'traditions'!

This post is for for week 125 of The Gallery: It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.
If you're new and want to know what The Gallery is, go and read here , and then come right back and join in!
You can also pick up The Gallery code if you want too.
And you could also subscribe to make sure you never miss a theme, which is posted every Friday.

Now go forth and show some big blog love. Visit other bloggers, comment on their post if you feel moved to do so, and be inspired.
This virtual gallery of photographs is about enjoying each other's work, so go make someone's day. You will get out of this whatever you put in.

The link stays open until Tuesday so you have plenty of time to join in.
And absolutely ANYONE can join in.

NOTE: The Gallery is going to be taking a rest over Christmas, so it won't be back until January. So make the most of it while you still have the energy/the willpower/aren't too drunk.

Giveaway: The All Terrain Kart. For All Terrain Kids!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 11:25:00 +0000

I am a firm believer that there is NOTHING finer than giving your children a great love of the outdoors.
And I have a giveaway to encourage just that - how do you fancy getting your hands on one of these beauties for Christmas?
Created by a designer in London, this funky looking All Terrain Kart is perfect for 7 to 12 year olds and features pneumatic tyres, handbrake, padded bars and a rope for steering and pulling.
I think my very favourite thing is that it's a real throw back to the olden days of carting. Instead of going ultra modern, they've done ultra fun!

The ATK comes flat packed and you have to build it yourself with the 16 bolts provided, assembling the axles, brake mechanism and seat back with the spanner and Allen key provided.
It should all only take about 30 minutes to assemble, but again, I think this all goes towards adding to its appeal.

For further details, FAQs and spec visit the All Terrain Kart website. Or if you want to join in the conversations, you can find ATK on Facebook and Twitter.

Looks pretty cool doesn't it? Imagine your child's face when he/she wakes up to this on Christmas Day? Imagine dad's face when he has something to build instead of sticking batteries into something on Christmas Day?!

THIS COMPETITION IS CLOSED
. . . and the winner is . . . Iain Mason

Well, I have one of these beauties to give away.
It's worth £175 and it could be yours. All you have to do to enter is answer the really simple, fun question below. There is no right or wrong answer, it's just a bit of fun. The winner will be chosen at random after the closing date.

Q: What is your favourite childhood toy?

Leave your answer in the comments here or if you want an extra entry simply tweet: I'm entering the giveaway to win an awesome All Terrain Kart with @tara_cain and @allterrainkart - and then add the name of your favourite childhood toy

Rules and stuff:
The giveaway is open to residents of the UK only (sorry rest of the world).
No cash alternative offered.
The prize is 1 All Terrain Kart worth £175.
Entry is via comment on this blog post and/or Tweet.
Make sure your contact details are available.
The competition closes at 8am on Friday, December 14 2012.
One winner will be chosen at random from all the entries after the closing date.
The winner will be asked to provide their home address for the prize to be sent to.
The winner's details will be passed on to PR company who will be sending out the prize.
If a prizewinner does not respond within a week of being contacted, the prize will be re-drawn and a new winner will be contacted.

The Photo Gallery: Week 126

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 08:30:00 +0000

Hello and welcome to week 126 of The Gallery.
I think it's pretty obvious what the theme is going to be this week. There can be no other really.
The Gallery is going to be taking a rest over Christmas, so it won't be back until January.
So make the most of it while you still have the energy/the willpower/aren't too drunk.

Today's Gallery theme is: It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

I don't think anyone will struggle with this one! As usual, interpret the theme any way you like.
If you want to join in with The Gallery and showcase your photos, come back on Wednesday and when my Gallery post goes live, add a link to your post on the Linky below mine.
The link stays open until the following Tuesday, so you have plenty of time to join in.
Remember, The Gallery isn't about technically brilliant photos. It's about rediscovering photos; both old and new.
It's about sparking your imagination, being inspiring - and inspiring others.
And absolutely ANYONE can join in.

Also, if you're linking up to The Gallery then try to visit as many of the other entries as you can to see what they've come up with. Say hi, discover new people, welcome them in when they discover you.

You will get out of this what you put into it.

NEW HERE? NOT SURE HOW TO ENTER?
If you're new here and want to find out what The Gallery is all about and how to enter visit here.
And if you want to make sure you don't miss any prompts or entries in future, make sure you subscribe and get all prompts delivered directly to your in box.

Go on, clicky click away, you know you want to ...

Through the eyes of a child

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 13:20:00 +0000

Sometimes I think we should all take the time to stop, take stock and 'be' a child.
It makes for a far less stressful life. And it's SO much more fun than grown up stuff.
Rain? What rain?
Mud? It'll wash off.
Cut on the knees? Shows I had a good time.
An hour to make a 10 minute journey? What's the rush?

Sometimes I forget this as I'm caught up in the hustle and bustle of every day life. Ferrying kids to and from school, shopping, admin, work, housework, after school clubs, visiting friends.
Sometimes I forget that one of the best stress relievers available is totally free of charge and right there for the taking: Spend time with your children. Actually give them your time. All your time; no distractions. Because the rewards are huge.

My 7 year old will sit for HOURS writing or drawing or creating. And if you just sit with her and chat or share or join in she visibly blooms.
My 10 year old wants to tell you, in great detail, about his latest battle on the Clash of Clans game on his iPod or the characters on his Skylanders Giants. I find it tedious to the extreme, but it makes his day if you take the time to show an actually interest and not a passing nod.

Sometimes it's really difficult to dedicate half an hour/an hour to one thing when you have a million things you know need doing.
So I find being outside easier. No washing in the corner nagging me to throw it in the wash. No photo tempting me. No jobs in need of doing.
And give them a game or a challenge that you will join in with and they bounce.
Plus I believe that if you instill in your kids a great love of the outdoors it won't matter if they sit glued to the TV or the Playstation or the computer during these cold evenings. Because at heart, they will love getting out there and discovering and exploring and breathing in that fresh air more than anything else.
That's my plan anyway!

I took these photos on one of our many dog walks and I just love how their imagination fires off as we tramp through the woods. We played a game 'say what you see' and this is what they said they saw when we came upon various every day things:

ALIEN TENTACLES: Those tentacles are reaching down into the earth to steal our natural resources because the forest is full of them and the aliens know that the woods are so quiet they can go about their deed with no one watching.

MOTHER NATURE'S CLIMBING FRAME: Clearly Mother Nature made this tree have branches which sweep the floor so we can climb it. She even added in footholds especially for a child's foot because she doesn't really want adults climbing her trees.

MUSIC: If you all squelch in the puddles at the right time you can make a tune. And rude noises

ART: You could put this in a gallery and people would stand and admire it and wonder how it was created. And no one would ever know because nature is a Mystery.

THE BEST PLAYGROUND EVER: There are roots and hiding places and it's a bit spooky and it's on a hill so it's quite difficult to move around - WHAT else could you need?

BEST FRIEND: He always wants to play, never ever complains and never ever runs out of energy. He's also good at hide and seek tig, but gives your hiding place away all the time!

This Christmas I will be finding ways to really switch off and enjoy my two excitable children - I hope you find a way too!

The Best Boots Ever to Grace My Feet

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 08:30:00 +0000

That's an official title.
For these boots; these gorgeous creatures that I wear EVERYWHERE, with EVERYTHING are my new best friends.

I would never in a million years have ever thought to buy equestrian boots. My 7 year old is the horse rider in this family.
But boy oh boy. Expensive (about £140). But Worth. Every. Penny
Waterproof, insanely comfortable and I look quite posh. What's not to love?
Ariat Windermere boots. Remember that name.

Thank you to Central Saddlery for insisting I needed a pair of these in my life and would I like to review a pair.
Changed my life. And I don't care how sad that sounds.

The Photo Gallery: Colour

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 08:00:00 +0000

There is something quite other worldly about this photo.
Like Mia has just stepped out from that crack in the tree where she has found Narnia or the Misty Mountains of Middle Earth and the green just spilled out on to the land behind her.
She has a canvas of it hanging in her room and some nights, when the mood takes her, she asks me to make a story up using this picture as the prompt.
How gorgeous that one photo can contain so many little adventures!

This post is for for week 125 of The Gallery: Colour.
If you're new and want to know what The Gallery is, go and read here , and then come right back and join in!
You can also pick up The Gallery code if you want too.
And you could also subscribe to make sure you never miss a theme, which is posted every Friday.

Now go forth and show some big blog love. Visit other bloggers, comment on their post if you feel moved to do so, and be inspired.
This virtual gallery of photographs is about enjoying each other's work, so go make someone's day. You will get out of this whatever you put in.

The link stays open until Tuesday so you have plenty of time to join in.
And absolutely ANYONE can join in.

The joy of cardboard boxes

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Expensive Christmas presents?
Pft. This empty cardboard box brought my 7 year old HOURS of entertainment and joy this week as she lovingly placed it against a wall in her bedroom and made it into a luxury dog house.
The dog is safe; she's created it for herself as she is slightly animal bonkers.