F is for.....fundraising

Regular readers will be aware that throughout this month I abstained from chocolate to raise funds for Barnardo's. When my eldest two children heard what I was doing they decided that they too wanted to give up all chocolate to fundraise for charity.

They thought long and hard and agreed their charity would be EACH. Last year they took part in the Town 102 Feetbeat Challenge for EACH and Girl also heard about the Treehouse Appeal through Rainbows so it's a charity well known to them.

Middle was aware that it was a place for poorly children but he expected to stay there when he was off school, instead of spending the day on the sofa. It was difficult trying to explain to him how ill a child has to be to stay there and that I hoped he'd never have to go there.

I'm so proud of them for wanting to do this and I've been working hard with tweets and retweets and letters to the Press trying to get as much publicity as possible and they've been very lucky with sponsorship so far.

While they sat in the living room earlier this evening I asked them a few questions about their challenge;


We're on the last day of May and you've just had some of your Easter egg, which will be the last chocolate you have before starting your challenge tomorrow. How do you feel about that?
Girl: Pretty sad because I have to give up chocolate.
You were the one who decided to give up chocolate so why are you sad? You chose to do the same as I had done throughout May so why did you decide that?
Girl: Because I thought it would be a good thing to do, to be sponsored to raise money for a charity.
Why did you choose EACH?
Girl: It's good to raise money for EACH because it's a children's hospice that needs money for children that are really poorly.
Do you think that you'll really miss chocolate, especially as you love chocolate chip brioche and chocolate cereals
Girl: Errrmm, not really.
What about when you have an ice cream. You won't be able to have a flake
Girl: Well, I would actually enjoy it without a flake. I'd be happy without.

You have just had your last chocolate for an entire month. You had some of your Easter egg, didn't you?
Middle: No. (I can see how this is going to go!)
How do you feel?
Middle: Sad.
Why do you feel sad?
Middle: Because I'm sitting here talking to you (Thanks son!)
How do you feel about not being able to have a chocolate ice cream for whole month?
Middle: Very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very sad.
So that must mean you're going to miss chocolate a lot?
Middle: Yes
Do you think you'll feel better knowing you're doing it to fundraise for charity.
Middle: Yes.
Why did you choose EACH?
Middle: To get money for very, very, very poorly children.
You said the other day that you wanted to give all the chocolate you wouldn't eat in June to those children at the Treehouse, didn't you? That's a very sweet and kind thing to say.


Do you think that Mummy and Daddy are going to have to remind you often that you can't have chocolate?
Middle: No. I'll remember all the time.
That's very impressive! I'm glad to hear that you're very determined. I struggled and when I broke up your eggs earlier I nearly picked up a piece and ate it! 
Middle: It doesn't matter about you.
How do you think you'll get on at the Jubilee party tomorrow? Do you think there'll be chocolate on offer? Will you be able to leave the chocolate alone?
Middle: Yes, I won't have any.
Do you feel proud that you're doing this? You hope to raise lots and lots of money for EACH?
Middle: Yes, I do. Mummy, today I made jam tarts at school and we're going to be selling them tomorrow. You can buy one.....


I think that means his interview was over!! I won't be hurrying into a career as an interviewer any time soon ;-)

I announced to the children that they had already hit their fundraising, before the start of their challenge. They both punched the air repeatedly and shouted YEAH! YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!

Bless their little cotton socks!


If you'd like to sponsor Girl and Middle you can do so on their just giving page here

A Year In Photos-Day 152

Nothing much happening today but I managed to catch this shot of my gorgeous boy.

A Year In Photos-Day 151

I picked up my apron from the kitchen floor, put it on and this beast fell out of it. Eek!!

I'm still shuddering....

Ravensburger Puzzle Club: London Children's Map

Last month we were sent the I Love London puzzle to review which the children thought was 'one of their favourite puzzles to date'. Well, Ravensburger have surpassed themselves with this month's offering.


Continuing with the London theme we received the 100 XXL piece London Children's Map.

The image is based upon from Guy Fox's ordnance survey children's map of London with added  embellishment. There are famous landmarks aplenty, whimsical drawings of people and a fun little picture of the Queen to spot near to Buckingham Palace. 

There's lots to spot and a sheet included inside the box has a few suggestions of what to look out for. This is a fab puzzle, particularly if your child is as interested in London as my eldest two are!

As they were putting the puzzle together Girl and Middle had great fun seeing how many places we'd visited on our trips to London and picking out landmarks and places they want to go to on future trips to the city.

The puzzle is recommended for age 6+ but Middle (5) did most of this without help and with ease. 


Each purchase of the London Children's map puzzle supports the Guy Fox History Project Limited which creates activities to empower children to explore the world around them.\


We were not paid for this review. We were sent the puzzle as we are members of the Ravensburger Puzzle Club. All words and opinions are our own and links were added out of courtesy. 

A Year In Photos-Day 150

It was a very special session of Pyjama Drama today as we were celebrating the Queen's Jubilee. Here's Tidgy waiting to go in, ready to wave his flag at the Queen!

Ten on Tuesday No 31

This week it's the turn of Kerri from K Two,  a company with lots of gorgeous products on their website.

1. Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Kerri Middleton, I am a mum, wife and business owner.  I own a company called K TWO – it creates products that help organise busy lives such as Calendars with pockets every month to store school permission slips, appointment cards, invitations and bills etc right next to the relevant date!

 2. How did you get started?

My first product idea (a flatpack cardboard tree for displaying Christmas cards) came to me when I was backpacking through Australia so I set about making a (very) rough prototype out of scrap cardboard and the nail scissors from my toilet bag in the back of my campervan.  On my return to the UK, I set up K TWO to produce, market and sell the product and haven’t looked back.

3. Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

I have two main ambitions for the next five years – firstly, that my family continues to spend lots of fun family time together, once they hit the teenage years I doubt I’ll ever see them so I want to make the most of them actually wanting to spend time with me now!

My second ambition is for my business.  I’d love for it to become a widely recognised name and have its own display in all the major department stores.  I’d also like to become a multi-millionaire and own a mansion, yacht and private jet but I think that’s a little ambitious!

4. What item would you be lost without?

I’m really busy and so find it really handy to keep my To Do Notes with me always so I can tick something off when I’ve done it and add more things to it as they crop up.  I find my i phone a brilliant tool too but nothing beats a paper list!  One day I WILL get to the bottom of my to do list...

5. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

What’s spare time?  Once you’re a parent, juggling work and family life I think any ‘me time’ is hard to come by.  However if I did find myself with some spare time, I’d probably force myself not to clear out one of the many cupboards at home that need attention and instead have a coffee with a friend, watch a film or read a book with my kids or go out to dinner with my husband.

6. What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?

I have a sticky note on my desk with the phrase “Experience is not what happens to you; it’s what you do with what happens to you that counts” that is a great motto for work and business. I was told the phrase when I was going through major challenges with my business and it always inspires me to turn a negative into a positive and to learn from my mistakes. 

7. Do you have a favourite holiday destination?

I love New York and Hong Kong for their vibrancy and variety and the sense that anything is possible there.  We’d love to take the children to both of those places on day.  For family holidays we often go to France, there are so many lovely spots and places to explore and it’s so close.  When we can manage it, ski holidays with friends are great fun.  We also love camping (though I am a 2 night max kind of camper!) - the kids love cooking outside, the mud and sleeping under canvas.  For a bit more comfort we like family friendly hotels like Crieff Hydro as it doesn’t matter what the weather is like, there’ll be something to enjoy.

8. What's your favourite activity to do with your children?

Swimming is always fun.  I also like baking with them which they really enjoy too (and eating the results which are usually of varying quality!) We live near the beach and cycle alot on the promenade, nice and flat!

9. What do like most about where you live?

There are loads of families about so it’s a nice community feeling. The beach really makes where we live great; every day the school run is along the promenade, so the constantly changing scenery of the sea is such a unique and lovely way to start the day.  There’s plenty of outdoor space and parks locally for the kids to burn off their energy and they love a swim in the sea on the rare days when it’s hot enough!  There are also plenty of local shops and cafes (which I try and use as much as possible as I’d be so sad to see them go).

10. Any embarrassing moments you'd care to share with us?

I once sat next to Ian Rankin on a flight to London, I didn’t realise it was him, he was really nice, very understated and chatty and during the conversation I asked him ‘So what do you do’.....he said ‘Im a writer actually, I write about a character, you’ve maybe not heard of, called Rebus’ how silly I felt once I realised!!

K Two can also be found on twitter and facebook

Summer holiday ideas

freedigitalphotos.net

Over the last few years I have written a few articles and posts about what to do during school holidays but this year I thought I'd ask Girl to come up with a few suggestions of what we could do over the next half term and the summer holidays. I expected her to ask for daily trips to the zoo but I was pleasantly surprised with her suggestions. The nerd in me loves that she actually WANTS to go to a museum! The eldest two were disappointed that we didn't have time to visit Lowestoft Museum yesterday and I had to promise them that we would return soon.

Her list included;

• Go to the park behind school
• Go swimming
• Go to a beach
• Go for a walk
• Play tennis
• Play golf
• Play football
• Meet my BF and her Mum & baby sister
• Go to town
• Go to the library
• Go shopping with Auntie M
• Go for a walk with Nanny
• Have a sleepover at Nanny's
• Buy new sunglasses
• Go for a walk (looks like she's keen on walking. I like free activities!)
• Celebrate Diamond Jubilee
• Go to a museum
• Stay at home (rainy day activity no doubt!)
• Go for a bike ride
• Go to a farm
• Go to a horse race
• Watch tv
• Play our DS 'draw something' game
• Play Bratz on PS2
• Play Bench Ball

and finally......

• Go for a drive to send Tidgy off to sleep (love her thinking!)

I think there's a great selection there and not too expensive either! Hopefully we won't need the tv, PS2 or DS options.

A Year In Photos-Day 149

As I was getting the washing in earlier tonight I heard this little fella tweeting away...

The Royle Family by Girl aged 7.

freedigitalphotos.net

One of our biggest concerns at the moment is Girl's performance at school. She rarely concentrates, doesn't listen and is unable to complete a task to the best of her ability. We're working with her teacher but I am beginning to despair. She has great potential and her teacher says that she does have 'moments of sheer brilliance' but sadly they are too few.

She & Middle are obsessed with the Royals, mostly since Kate & Wills married last year, and they are very excited about the Jubilee. I was recently made to collect the Daily Mail set of dvds about the Queen for them. Girl watched one last week and the next morning she wrote the following fact list about The Royle Family [sic]

• Diana died in a car crash (she told me that when she watched this on the dvd she cried. That brought a lump to my throat. Sniff.)
• Diana got married with Prince Charles
• Diana had a funrul 
• The Queen has 7 granddaughters (not sure where she got this info from!)
• William and Kate got married in Westminster Abbey
• Kate had a long white dress
• Kate has a sister (who the DM seem to think is Royalty)
• Kate and William invited the Queen to their wedding
• The Queen cryed at Diana's funrul
• Kate and William got married in 2011
• The Queen lives in Buckingham Palace
• Diana and Prince Charles had two sons

Facts about me that are similer

• Me and Kate have blonde hair (really?!)
• Me & Kate have a white dress

  It shows that she CAN concentrate when she puts her mind to it, albeit with a few false facts!

A Year In Photos-Day 148

This morning we went to watch the Dragon Boat racing at Oulton Broad. Middle expected to be able to take part and was rather disappointed when he couldn't so you can imagine his joy at finding the canoes.

He & Girl were adamant that they didn't need an adult with them...but then proceeded to go round and round in circles. It was hilarious and Girl was soaked because of Middle lifting so much water into the canoe with each oar stroke BUT they had a great time and can't wait to go back!

Crabs and crabby children

With the sun shining we wanted to make the most of the day so we headed out early to go crabbing at Waldringfield.

It's a small beach but clearly the place to be as there were 5 other families crabbing by the time we left. We were only there for 20 minutes or so as Tidgy was getting grumpy. He was strapped into the buggy as he couldn't be trusted and he was also over-tired after a late night. We managed to catch a grand total of 65 crabs in that short time though and the children loved watching them all scuttle back into the water.

After that we drove down to Pakefield in the hope Tidgy would nap in the car but the other two were playing up, arguing and fighting and making lots of noise. We had lunch and headed onto the promenade, walking from Pakefield down to South Pier, Lowestoft for an ice-cream.

The children then got changed into their swimming cossies and had a run through the fountains. They had great fun but Tidgy was shivering the whole time. Every few minutes he'd head back to us to be snuggled up in the towel to warm up...and then as soon as he'd warmed up he'd go straight back into the water!

Tidgy finally fell asleep in the car but Girl and Middle fought all the way home so an early night was called for. They were in bed at 7pm but have only just gone to sleep 2.5 hours later. I dread to think what mood they'll be in tomorrow!

Looking at the photos though, I think they had fun :-)

Tea bags??

Seriously...tea bags??

This was spotted in a pub toilet in Pakefield and it made me chuckle. Who would stick a tea bag in the toilet?!

A Year In Photos-Day 147

Soaked and shivering but still having fun!

A Year In Photos-Day 146

We went to a family party on Friday evening and Tidgy was in his element. Balloons, lots of children and a disco!

Move over Michael Rosen...

.....there's a new poet in town! Girl wrote this at Writer's Club yesterday afternoon.

I DO NOT drink a lot! ;-)

E is for.....emotional

It's completely acceptable to cry at the birth of your children, at their school performances (although I was crying so hard at an assembly once that I had to leave!) and when they've said something to tug on your heartstrings.

It's also completely normal to cry at bad news, the death of someone close and at funerals but I cry at the stupidest of things;

I had tears rolling down my face when Russell Watson walked on to the stage at Ipswich Regent last year.

I get a lump in my throat when brass bands strike up a tune.

I sobbed, those great big heaving sobs, when I broke a broom yesterday.

When Mr Tumble bounced onto the Harvest stage I had to bite my lip to stop the tears. Seriously, wtf!

At the Suffolk Show last year the Army Air Corps put on a display and even that had me wet-eyed.

When I was pregnant I sobbed because someone at one of our parties had cleared up for us but not recycled. How dare they?!

Programmes like One Born Every Minute and Long Lost Family have to be avoided because I know what it'll do to me.

Events like carnivals have me welling up. It's pathetic.

I am a great big blubbering wreck and it's embarrassing. I should be known as Hypersensitivity Heidi.

Karma. That's what has caused it. As a child I used to be part of a gang of children who regularly teased a girl for being a cry baby and it's payback time!

A Year In Photos-Day 145

Girl went to Writer's Club at school this afternoon and there wasn't enough time to go home and return to pick her up so we popped to the shop for an ice-cream and then headed to the park. The boys enjoyed it, but it was too hot for me!

Yes, my camera is still knackered. Not sure how I'm going to get through the next 221 days of this project without lugging the SLR around!

Cool-headed or useless parent?

I see myself as the latter.

A couple of weeks ago we all sat on the beach happily hunting for shells for Middle's seaside topic at school but it was quickly ruined.

A dog ran right through us all and knocked Tidgy over and briefly stood on him, circled us and walked over him again before I could grab him. He, of course, screamed his head off. I think it was more shock than pain but I held him like I'd never held him before.

The father of the family apologised profusely and said to his wife 'you put dogs down for behaviour like that'. Her response was a rather pathetic 'but he didn't bite'. Luckily for them I had my back to them and was too busy comforting my son to respond.

Hubby did the awfully British thing of not complaining and accepted their apologies gracefully. I suppose that I subconsciously held back because the children were there and I knew that it would upset Tidgy, and them more if I vented my anger but looking back I am kicking myself. I failed my son. I should have let rip. I should have given it to them with both barrels. No dog should behave like that around children.

Tidgy loves animals but since the 'attack' he is now terrified if a dog comes anywhere near to him and he screams like he did that day. That upsets me so much, I'm in tears as I write this.

Why did I not speak up?? It wouldn't have erased what happened but I wonder how I can protect my children if I don't say anything.

Nothing's gonna stop me...

As those who follow me on twitter know I had a blogging wobble the other day. I considered quitting blogging.

The reason behind this? On the eve of Cybher I returned to my hotel room and checked my emails to discover that my former stepson had followed me on twitter. This panicked me and I blocked him straight away which I now discover was futile as blocking on twitter has no effect. A week later I got an email notification from Linkedin saying that he was requesting we linked up. There's no-one that we'd have in common so it seemed very strange.

My surname is not available on twitter or my blog and I've had 2 name changes since I divorced his father. How he found me on twitter I do not know and then for him to find me on Linkedin just a week later.....well, I was freaked out to say the least. His tweets are protected so I can't see what his account is used for. I thought I could perhaps gauge whether he was likely to be trouble.

We didn't have the best of relationships once I married his father and I haven't seen or spoken to him in about 14 years so I automatically assumed that he was only following me with malicious intent.

With that thought in mind I questioned whether I really wanted him and his family following my life via my blog and contemplated quitting to protect my children. I couldn't see any other explanation for it.

I have since discovered that there is already far too much information about me & my family out there on the web and had I known that when I first began tweeting and blogging 3 years ago I would have blogged anonymously but the damage is done now. If someone wants to find me they don't have to look too hard, unfortunately.

After many, many tweets, DMs and emails of advice and support I have decided against quitting. 'Never let anyone stop you from what you want to do!' was the great advice from Mark (thanks!) and the general consensus was the same and you know what? They're right!

I love blogging. After 3 years of hard work into getting my blog to where it is I am not going to give in because of someone else, particularly when they haven't done or said anything. If they want to read about my life then so be it!

Strangely, when I was being hassled/stalked via my blog, twitter, facebook (and even by mail to my home address!) I was defiant and was NEVER going to let them get to me, even when it was suggested I lay low for a few months. I just couldn't do it and didn't want to do it.

Nothing and no-one can stop me from doing what I enjoy.

A Year In Photos-Day 144

When I picked Middle and Girl up from school I decided that it was too nice to go straight home so we went to Tesco to get some ice lollies. 

Apologies for the poor quality. I dropped my phone this morning and the camera hasn't been working properly since :-(

Blackpool Tower Competition

COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED. THANKS TO ALL THOSE THAT ENTERED!
Congratulations to the winner-Kellie Faggle McIntyre

I’ve been invited to host a great giveaway on this blog.

One reader could win a family ticket (2 adults & 2 children) to the Merlin attractions in Blackpool Tower!

Blackpool Tower

I’ve never been to Blackpool, in fact I’ve never been anywhere near that part of the country before but we’re holidaying there later this year. When we told the children where we were going on holiday Girl asked if we could go to the ‘Eiffel Tower’ while we were there. Geography isn’t her strong point….

I was amazed to see how much there is available at the tower. There’s the famous ballroom for Strictly fans and a taste of Blackpool dance, the circus, and The Eye with the new 4d cinema Blackpool Experience. I’m really looking forward to the views from The Eye although I’m not so sure what Middle will make of the glass Skywalk!

Blackpool Tower

Also to be found there is Blackpool Tower Dungeon, not for the faint-hearted I would imagine! Take a look at the website for more information www.theblackpooltower.com You can also like Blackpool Tower on their facebook fan page.

So, lots of family fun to be had there if you’re looking for ideas of  things to do in Blackpool. We’ll be reviewing the tower after our holiday so watch this space.

Blackpool Tower

For your chance to win one Family Ticket (up to 2 adults and 2 children) valid until 31^st December 2012 for Merlin attractions inside Blackpool Tower fill in the Rafflecopter form;

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Year In Photos-Day 143

Hurray for the sun!

Ten On Tuesday No 30

I had the pleasure of meeting Erica at Cybher last weekend and I am honoured to have her answering Ten on Tuesday this week.

1. Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Erica Price.  Until I had my son 5 years ago, I was a manager in financial services.  Once my son was born, I became a full time mum.  I started writing for another blog a few years ago.  Now I write for two blogs other than my own and I cover a range of subjects from green issues and natural living to social media and marketing.  Last year I started my own blog 92three30 to write about my life as a mum with a child at school.

2. What's your earliest memory?

I remember my baby sister coming home from hospital – I was only 2 years 2 months old, but it was a big event.

3. What item would you be lost without?

My iPhone.  I left my previous phone in a taxi and didn't get it back.  The same day I found out that I'd won an iPhone. My husband couldn't believe how jammy it was and I think he was a bit put out as he was the Apple fan in the house and he would have loved one.  Since I got it I've become a real convert and use it such a lot.  It's been a revelation to me as I only had a fairly basic phone before and now I can do some many things on it.

4. When is your favourite time of year?

Spring, I think, because it promises the summer to come.  I also love spring flowers and enjoy seeing the progression from snowdrops through crocuses and daffodils to tulips. 

5. Which 4 people, dead or alive, would you invite to dinner?

I've always been fascinated by history so I think they would be mostly dead people.  I'd like to invite Churchill(I'd like to see what he was like in a relaxed setting), Richard III (to make up my own mind on the princes in the tower mystery), Oscar Wilde (I think he would be a scream) and Bing Crosby (I'd like him to sing for his supper).

6. If money was no object where would you go on holiday?

Torn between Australia and St.Lucia.  Australia is where my sister now lives and I'd love to see her and her family, but apart from visiting them, I have absolutely no interest in the place.  In fact, aside from the family connection, visiting Australia comes very low on the list of countries to visit (just above the war torn and dangerous ones).  St.Lucia was a strong contender for our honeymoon destination (we went to Mauritius) and only narrowly missed out on being chosen, so I'd love to go. 

7. What would you tell your 16 year old self?

That's tough.  Making different choices then would have meant not meeting certain people or having different experiences later.  I think I'd actually have given advice on A level choices (I made some mistakes and had to do an extra year to get to where I wanted) and hence got to university a year earlier.  That would have meant that I wouldn't have come out in a recession and I would have been earning for an extra year.

8. What was the last cd you bought yourself?

This is a difficult one for me as I don't buy CDs – I am a bit of a musical philistine.  The last one that was bought for me was a Fleetwood Mac album, but I don't think I have bought one for myself for the last 10 years or so.

9. Do you have a favourite film?

The answer to that would probably change based on my mood and there are a few that I love.  They're all feel good movies though and surprisingly two of them are musicals: The Sound of Music, High Society, Pretty Woman. 

10. What are you reading at the moment?

Nothing is the simple answer.  This is because I finished a book last night and haven't started another yet.  I've just finished reading Divergent by Veronica Roth.  It's a fantasy novel and was recommended by another blogger. I read a wide range of stuff with old style crime fiction being my favourite, but I've read quite a lot of fantasy over the last few years.

  

A Year In Photos-Day 142

I needed to cook dinner, the eldest two were upstairs and hubby wasn't around so what could I do with the mischievious toddler?

Strap him in his seat and stick his Something Special dvd on. It worked a treat!

I heart Mr Tumble. Lots.

Thomas and friends: Rescue on the Rails dvd

COMPETITION NOW CLOSED. WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON.

Thanks to all those that entered. There was a huge response to this competition!


The winner chosen at random is Raj Sandhu. Congratulations!!! 

My children may have more dvds than HMV but that doesn't stop them wanting more so I knew they would be more than happy to review the new Thomas dvd- Rescue on the Rails.

Middle has always been a big fan of Thomas and Tidgy is now getting into trains and is also able to sit for a length of time to watch dvds. Although Girl isn't a fan as such she is content to sit and watch it with the boys.

Rescue on the Rails is 54 minutes long, has 4 episodes & two bonus features, one of which is a short film on railway crossings.

I must admit to not having watched all the episodes but the children have and the feedback was very positive. They loved all the episodes but couldn't pick out any favourite moments as they said they enjoyed every minute!

They liked the introduction of the new fire engine-Flynn ( I struggle to keep up with all the characters nowadays!) and enjoyed the segments with Mr Perkins inbetween the episodes.

What I love about the Thomas dvds is that as a parent you can't go far wrong with these. There's a moral to the story whether it be about teamwork, being helpful or friendly to others and it's great, safe entertainment for the littlies.

This comes highly recommended by my children and I know it's a dvd they'll watch over and over again.

Rescue on the Rails was released today, May 21st 2012, and I have a copy for one lucky reader to win!

Answer the question below and leave your details for your chance to win.

For one extra entry tweet the following: 'Peep Peep! I've entered to win Thomas & Friends: Rescue on the Rails on @him_me_three's blog www.himmethree.blogspot.co.uk' making sure that you leave your twitter name on the form.

The prize is for one Rescue on the Rails dvd.

A name will be picked at random on 18th June 2012.

The winner's name will be announced on here and on twitter. The winner has to contact me with their mailing address within 3 working days or I will re-draw.

The dvd will be mailed direct to the winner from HIT Entertainment.

UK entries only please.

Good luck!


*We were not paid to review this dvd. All words are my own and all opinions are ours.

Paint Your Own Japanese Best Friend Dolls (review)

Kokeshi is a delightful Japanese tradition of painting a wooden doll and passing it on to a friend. Interplay  sell a set of 3 Kokeshi dolls for your daughter to paint, include a secret message and pass on to their friend for them to treasure.

The box includes everything you need to paint and decorate the 3 dolls. There's plenty of paint, stickers, tags and secret message notes. The instructions are very easy to follow.

Middle decided he wanted to have a go at painting one and even though this set is aimed at 8 years+ it was simple enough for him to do.

A paintbrush is supplied but we used our own thicker brushes although you do need to be careful when painting around the neck with thicker brushes as Middle had went over on to the other colour a few times.

To get the desired effect it pays to put 2-3 coats on, especially with the white paint. They dried very quickly though so there wasn't masses of time to kill inbetween the coats drying. If you're going to make all 3 dolls at the same time you could paint one coat on a doll and move on to the next while waiting for it to dry.

The facial features are added via stickers although if you had a steady hand I'm sure you could paint on your own if you wanted to. You can then decorate your doll with the stickers as shown or mix and match.

Once your doll is decorated you write a message for your friend, roll it up tightly and place it in the whole in the doll. You add a tag if you wish and then pass it on to your friend.

We thought these looked really cute and the children had great fun making them. Girl cannot wait to give them to her friends, one of whom has moved away and she misses terribly. She wants to get some more so that she can give them to her birthday party guests in place of loot bags and I think that's a rather sweet idea.

Japanese Best Friend Dolls have been voted British Toy and Hobby Association's Best New Toy 2012 in the Creative category.

*We were not paid for this review. We were sent the Japanese Best Friend Dolls kit to try out. This review is of my own words and our own opinions. Links were added out of courtesy.

A Year In Photos-Day 141

Sunday
Girl treats her doll like a real baby most of the time but I do hope that she won't throw her own children this high!

A Year In Photos-Day 140

Saturday
It was the day of the school fayre and it was decided to host a more traditional village affair so there was a maypole for the children. I haven't done, or seen, maypole dancing since I took part at primary school many, many years ago. It looked like great fun!!

A Year In Photos-Day 139

Friday
I was looking for something on Friday morning and my bedside drawers were heaving so it was no wonder I couldn't find anything. I decided to have a sort out and came across all sorts of things. I found the last birthday and anniversary cards that my Grandad wrote to me. He was in a nursing home after having a severe stroke and he couldn't really do anything for himself but he managed to write his name in my cards. I was so touched by that effort.

I also found this...

I made this when I was about 8 years old during sewing lessons at primary school. The words 'shoes' has faded but it was a shoe shine/buffer/sponge thing. I made it for my Grandad and he kept it for all those years. I couldn't believe that a crudely made item had meant so much to him that he'd kept it on his bedside table until he died.

Popblast Competition

THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED. WINNERS TO BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY. THANKS TO ALL THAT ENTERED.

We first encountered Popblast 'the band for kids' at the Ipswich Maritime Festival last summer. You can read what we thought here


My children were very excited to hear that they are returning to Ipswich on June 3rd to celebrate the Jubilee.

This from Popblast:

"Popblast, the U.K’s No.One, ‘Band for Kids’ are back in Ipswich on June 3rd for the Queens Jubilee Celebrations in Christchurch Park. The band that last year rocked the children of Ipswich at the Maritime and Wow festivals offer a safe, alternative pop music for children aged 4-10.

There are no explicit lyrics, dance moves or images. The Popblast show is a family friendly experience and includes; learn the dance routines for children and parents, games that encourage movement and exercise and also a Popblast quiz that will test the brains of parents and children. The show will be themed around the Jubilee celebrations... so get swotting up on Royal facts. Once again the Popblast show will be full of colourful madness and mayhem and promises to be a fantastic day for families with young children. There will be lots of prizes and freebies. The Popblast show is a fantastic, fun experience for children and parents. See you there!"

Take a look at the Popblast website for videos and photos of previous gigs.

Popblast have very kindly offered 5 cd packs (which includes It's  A Revolution cd and info) as competition prizes to celebrate their return to Ipswich.

To enter you need to fill in the form below and answer 5 simple questions. Get the children to have a go!

For one extra entry you can tweet the following "I want to win with @him_me_three and Popblast http://himmethree.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/popblast-competition.html" making sure you leave your twitter name on the form. 

Competition ends on June 1st 2012

The 5 winners, chosen at random, will be notified via email and announced on the blog and on twitter. 

Winners need to supply me with a mailing address within 3 working days or names will be re-drawn.

Prizes will be mailed direct from Popblast


UK entries only please

A Year In Photos-Day 138

I 'spotted' this at Toddlers earlier. I always wanted a Rainbow Brite doll when I was little but I  don't remember Chickenpox Rainbow Brite!

Making a splash

This morning the Big Conversation on Mark Murphy's show on BBC Radio Suffolk was about swimming.

The Amateur Swimming Association have researched primary school children and their swimming abilities and amazingly they claim that one in three children cannot swim 25 metres unaided by the time they leave primary school. You can read more about the research here

As with many of Mark's Big Conversations, especially those concerning children and parenting, I had an opinion. Poor Mark must dread reading his tweets in the morning!

He was asking whose responsibility it is to ensure children can swim and without a doubt I believe it's the parents. There are various courses available for children if you don't want to actually teach them yourself but it's a big milestone and one that should be done with family if possible.

My children's school is lucky enough to have a swimming pool on the school grounds and during the latter part of the summer term the children get to go swimming but having helped out with these swimming sessions I can honestly say that by the time the children were changed and ready to go into the pool in their groups they had no more than 10 minutes of splashing about. There were occasions when the teacher had too much on to take them swimming so they missed out.

Swimming is not just about learning to swim a few yards. It's an extremely valuable life skill. My biggest fear in life is drowning, even though I can swim, and I won't let my children near to water until they can swim competently and know what to do in a crisis. I reluctantly let them go onto a boat last summer but my heart was racing the whole time. I just couldn't relax.

It got me thinking about learning to swim myself. My Dad taught me by throwing me into the pool, just the way he was taught! He took us to Beccles Lido and we loved it. It wasn't the way I would have chosen to start swimming but it worked!

Our school had a small (very cold!) outdoor pool and that's where I earned my first proficiency certificate.

For other lessons we were bussed over to Lowestoft Leisure Centre with another local primary school and in the summer we were taken to Beccles Lido where we had to swim in pyjamas and retrieve a brick from the floor of the pool. How many of you remember those?!

In 1986 my school took part in the Aquapack scheme, which taught us water safety and rescue skills. Living on the coast and spending most of our summer holidays at the beach meant that this was all useful and invaluable.

I'll certainly be making a huge effort to teach my children to swim from now on.

What are your memories of learning to swim? Are they fond or were you terrified?

Do your children have swimming lessons at school?

D is for Disability...

Disability may be a bit of a misnomer when describing what I suffer with. I have never seen myself as disabled but as my symptoms and difficulties worsen I am beginning to change my opinion.

When I was 8 I was bedridden for 3 months caused by intense pain in my left hip. I spent 2 weeks in hospital during this time and it would have been in longer if I hadn't begged to be discharged to spend Christmas at home with my family. I was diagnosed as having poison and fluid in the hip and it gradually worked itself down my leg to my heel before disappearing.

As an active 8 year old to suddenly be bedridden was hell. I wasn't even allowed to get up to go the toilet. I had to be carried, which was a nightmare for my parents as our loo was upstairs! I missed school, I missed my friends. I couldn't properly play with my Christmas presents if they were too big to fit on my lap.

I can recall my last consultant's appointment at Southwold Hospital so clearly. I was carried into his room and he finally told me that I was able to walk again. It was such a strange feeling, especially as my muscles were almost useless. Walking out of the hospital, clinging to my parents, I was petrified that I would fall and end up back in hospital, particularly as there was slippery slush on the paths. Snow & ice scares me to this day.

2 years later I spent 4 days in hospital again because of hip pain. I was finally diagnosed as having hip dysplasia in my left hip, meaning that instead of a cup and ball my hip hadn't formed properly and the cup was more of a plate. 

We joked that James Paget hospital was my second home as I spent so much time there as there were many outpatient appointments as well. I shudder every time we go past the place. 

I was told that I'd grow out of it and there was nothing to be done but over the years the pain gradually got worse. Pain relief doesn't touch the pain. I had spells where it wasn't so bad and it was bearable but those times became less and less frequent and lasted for shorter spells. 

I was rarely able to take part in PE and long-term that hasn't helped with my fitness levels.

Eventually I was referred to hospital. By now I was in my mid-twenties. I most certainly hadn't 'grown out of it'. 

After scans and x-rays I was told that I actually had hip dysplasia in BOTH hips and arthritis. Yet again though I was told that nothing could be done. Due to the limited lifespan of a hip replacement it would be inadvisable to replace my hips at such a young age. 

"You can still walk, so soldier on" I was told.

I am now at the point where I have pain every single day. It may be one, or both hips. If I sit for too long I can barely walk for a few minutes. My limp is really pronounced on bad days (as if there's such a thing as a good day!) and my children take the piss. I have to laugh or I'd cry.

I am grateful that Tidgy is still in a buggy as I struggle to walk without it. I joke that when he's out of the buggy I'll need a zimmer frame. It's more truthful than I'd like to admit.

I can't wear pretty shoes. I have to wear flat, frumpy, ugly shoes. I have terrible shoe envy. I wore heels to my cousin's wedding earlier this month and paid for it for 3 days afterwards. Comfortable pretty shoes don't exist.

I cannot drive so I have to walk everywhere. It's good exercise and I mostly enjoy it but after a while I want to cry. I so wish I'd learnt to drive years ago when I had the opportunity but now I'd have to drive an automatic and we can't afford to get a second car so I need to wait until hubby can change his company car before I can learn.

I can't do any high impact sport. Girl keeps begging my to play tennis but I can't run. I can barely move. 'Chasing' after the toddler is embarrassing. 

I struggle to get up off the floor and it led to me being laughed at once during an exercise class. I never went back.

I'm reluctant to go back to the doctor's as I feel I'll be fobbed off again but my disability is now impacting on my life in a huge way and I need to get something done. I'm 36 and feel like I'm 80!

A Year In Photos-Day 137

Greeting Daddy after work...

A Year In Photos-Day 136

The eldest two have recently discovered a love of Top Trumps and I was lucky enough to find some packs in a charity shop for the bargain price of 79p each. As you can see Middle is studying his intently. It clearly worked as I lost the game.