Friday 29 January 2016

Win an Army Vehicle Transporter


After the two Frozen giveaways we've had, one of which is still open until the 5th of February here, I thought it was time for a change. So, this week it's something totally different; an Army Vehicle Transporter. Entry throught the usual Rafflecopter widget and all are welcome to join in. Due to a lower number of entries last week, I've simplified the Rafflecopter, so there aren't so many options, to make it a bit less time-consuming! Closes Midnight, 12th of February. Good Luck!
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Wednesday 27 January 2016

What the 111 Tragedy is Telling Us about the NHS

Interior of Southmead Hospital with Title Overlaid Following the tragic story of William Mead yesterday, it's time to speak up about the useless NHS 111 service that thousands of patients are being fobbed off with in this country. The NHS is under enormous strain, this we know. It's hard not to notice, with all the press coverage it gets and it's clear the Government are trying hard to 'lessen the strain' on the service. Just today, on BBC Breakfast, it was reported that A&E services are currently on Black Alert, due to too much pressure from an increased number of patients. So, the news report advises that people should only visit A & E if they have a 'genuine life-threatening condition'. And that's where it all falls apart, because we are not medical professionals. 
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Tuesday 26 January 2016

Bosch Kettle TWK7602 Review


Blue Bosch Kettle
I randomly found this kettle reduced from £29.99 to £7.38 in Tesco and thought it would be rude not to buy it. Please don't rush out to buy one, as it was somewhat abandoned in the 'bargain bin', all by itself, so I have no idea if there are anymore available in other stores. Keep an eye out, if you are passing anyway, though, you never know what you might find! As it turns out, it's a really good kettle. It comes in three different colours. Cream, light blue and this darker blue, which looks a little different to the picture. It doesn't even look totally like the colour on the box, it's a little greyer. I would call it Petrol Blue. Something to bear in mind if you want it to go with a particular colour scheme. 
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Monday 25 January 2016

What's So Special About Breakfast?


Man Asleep Under a Tree with Title OverlaidI can often be found banging on about the importance of breakfast, but why is it such a big deal? The obvious answer is that you haven't provided your body with any energy or nutrients overnight. During the day, we top up fairly regularly, so those eight or so hours without food make up a substantial fast period. There are other considerations though. If you have a whole day ahead of you, at work or school, you are going to be putting demands on your body. Not just physically, but mentally too. Your brain relies on good nutrition to function, so that you don't do or say anything that makes you look daft. Also you don't want to start falling asleep somewhere inappropriate either, because you might look like a bit of a plonker!
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Sunday 24 January 2016

My Sunday Photo: Chocolate Cake Delight


Yesterday I was treated to afternoon tea at Patisserie Valerie by my lovely friend Mels from Diary of a Jewellery Lover. L was so excited, he even picked out his best shirt to wear! His expression when Mel gave him this chocolate cake, suggests it was worth dressing up for! 

Boy With Cake
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Saturday 23 January 2016

Win Disney Frozen Headphones!



Last week we gave away a Frozen walkie talkie set and it was so popular that I thought I'd better find another Frozen offering for this week. So, don't be sad if you didn't win, here's another chance. This time to win Frozen headphones, so you won't have to listen to Let It Go ever again. EVER AGAIN!! Oh, the peaceful possibilities! Kindly make your way through the Rafflecopter and I wish you lots of luck. All welcome to enter, even if this is the 307th competition you've entered today! 

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Thursday 21 January 2016

10 Tips on Teenage Boys; A Guest Post by Mandi


This guest post is brought to you by Mandi, from Hex Mum Blog who has a wealth of experience in the parenting stakes. She is the perfect candidate to give me, and perhaps some other parents of young boys, a bit of a heads-up on what to expect in the not too distant future! As much as it would be lovely if they stayed cute and cuddly forever, there is a strong possibility that may not be the case, so get prepared with Mandi's musings on the teenage species. If you enjoy her brilliant observations, I'm sure she would be thrilled if you popped over to her blog, or gave her a wave on Twitter.

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Tuesday 19 January 2016

Bristol Bits: SS Great Britain Review


I love the Harbourside in Bristol, because there are so many different places to visit. Previously, we have reviewed; Bristol Aquarium, At-Bristol and M-Shed, which are all within a few minutes walk, or a short ferry ride of each other and provide various options for all-weather entertainment. Our recent visits have all been thanks to Visit Bristol, the go-to site for finding out what's great to do in our fair city, who provided us with a media pass for a few weeks. Today we are reviewing the SS Great Britain, a true icon of Bristol and a magnificent ship. It's a great place to choose when the weather is not at its best, as a surprising amount of it is below decks. 
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Friday 15 January 2016

Win Frozen Walkie Talkies!




L picked this week's giveaway, so we have a set of Frozen walkie talkies for you. A fun way for you to keep in touch with your little ones around the house, or, maybe, for them to hurl insults at each other, if they are that little bit older! Good luck everyone, your Rafflecopter awaits! All welcome to enter, even compers. And traffic wardens. 
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Thursday 14 January 2016

Curiousity A-loft


I don't do ladders, or dark dingy spaces,
I don't like spiders, my heart just races,
I've tried, I have, but I just can't face it, 
My loft is a mystery to me. 

I would love to visit and maybe clean it,  
It's ridiculous to think I've never seen it, 
I threaten to sometimes, but don't really mean it, 
My loft is a mystery to me. 

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Tuesday 12 January 2016

Why My Heart Belongs to Darts; A Guest Post by Phil


Darts with Title OverlaidEric Bristow, John Lowe, Keith Deller, Peter Evison, Mike Gregory and Steve Beaton. Some of the players I've met through my first love, darts. I haven't played them all, but I've certainly had some great laughs with them! I have seen some highs, like John Lowe hitting the first televised 9 dart finish. Ive seen some lows, like Andy Fordham leaving the Lakeside stage on a stretcher, because he collapsed due to his heart not being able to take the strain of his weight any more. Either way darts have been a huge part of my life for over forty years now.
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Monday 11 January 2016

When Wookey Hole went Wrong; What to Do in Cheddar


We planned a family trip to Wookey Hole just before Christmas. We had been looking forward to it all week. My son was especially excited, as he, like most ten year old boys, is obsessed with Minecraft and has always wanted to see inside a real cave. I had been given a media pass by the lovely folks at Visit Bristol and had spent the previous couple of weekends enjoying some fantastic days out at some great local attractions. This one wasn't quite so local, though, which was why we were pleased to have the media pass. It's not cheap and there was an element of petrol involved for the 40 mile cross-country journey. It took over an hour to get there. Then it all went wrong.
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Sunday 10 January 2016

My Sunday Photo: Asleep with Cookie!


One from the archives

Toddler Sleeping Slumped in a Lawn Chair. Clutching a Cookie
I am not letting go of this cookie!

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Saturday 9 January 2016

Movie Night Ideas to Unite the Generations!


Regular readers with really good memories will know that we are really fond of movie nights. We blogged about this way back in 2014, during 40 Days of Summer. It's a great pastime that doesn't cost much money, isn't weather-dependent and can involve all ages, making it perfect for when you have older relatives staying. We often have my Mother in Law to visit and, thankfully, she loves children's films. She cried laughing when we took her to see Paddington at the cinema and we had to buy the DVD, so she could watch it again on her next visit! It's a really great way to bring the family together, especially since most children's films have wide appeal and aren't just written with children in mind. Great feel-good films, like Mary Poppins, or Singin' in the Rain are always well received and are just as popular with L as they are with the grown ups!
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Win York Fitness Sauna Suit

Sauna Suit

As I wrote recently, my New Year's Resolutions are usually doomed before they start, but I am still going to try to make a few improvements. That doesn't mean yours have to be, though and we wanted to show support for everyone who's taking on the world this New Year. Whatever your personal goal, you can do it! If fitness is your thing, we have two Fitness Sauna Suits to giveaway. The sauna suit is designed to maximise weightloss and assist the detox process, so it could give your efforts a welcome boost if you win! The rafflecopter awaits you and we wish you lots of luck! 
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Thursday 7 January 2016

My Mobile Phone Disaster: A True Story!


Toddler and Pudsey Bear For Prose for Thought this week, there follows a true story about how I broke my mobile phone. The moral of the story is; answering your phone at inappropriate times might not be wise, but saying 'I told you so' is never a good idea!


I dropped my phone, which wasn't bright, 
Now I dream of a new one day and night, 
One with a screen without a crack, 
No ugly scratches or dents in the back.
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Discovering Star Wars: The Fan Awakens


Dressing Gown Head ShotI am as old as Star Wars. This is a fact I cannot deny. Star Wars: A New Hope was born in 1977, as was I, so I've always had a nostalgic fondness for all things Wooky. There is something about those opening titles that can transport me back to my childhood, where I was surrounded by plastic figures and At-Ats, on account of having a slightly older brother. So, it's only right and proper that my son, aptly named L, begins his education in The Force, in preparation for seeing the new film that's out. (I will always remember when L was born and one of our friend's children, a big Star Wars fan, was so jealous that he got to be called L. Even though, at the time, L had shown no Jedi leanings whatsoever.)
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Tuesday 5 January 2016

7 Truths about Small Space Living


Chinese Lucky Cat Ornament with Title OverlaidFor one reason or another, most of us will be required to occupy a small living space at some stage in our lives. Hopefully, this will not be for long, but, for some due to soaring property prices, it quickly becomes a way of life and people develop their own ways of coping. If you've never experienced student digs or purchased a property in a sought-after area, you may not have enjoyed the unique charms of diminuitive dwellings. This is the low-down of the bits no one tells you about. If you are intending to occupy your own teeny turf, read on and learn how not to drive your housemates crazy!
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