The Gallery: Animals

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The theme this week provided by the lovely Tara is animals:

I'm sure we're going to see a lot of photos of pets, but try to branch out, be a bit different. Test yourself. Go off in search of a cow or a ladybug or something a little more exotic.

Tara will be pleased to hear that I'm not even going to touch the idea of pets. We haven't got any and I don't want any until I can no longer avoid it with The Boy. Although before he was born, we had some gorgeous fancy goldfish including a Bristol Blue Shubunkin called Bob who was stunning. Absolutely gorgeous! He originated as a classroom pet along with Daphne, Derek, Clive and Cynthia. Daphne and Derek were sent home with two children, who adored them, at the end of the school year. Clive and Cynthia came home with me. Unfortunately they didn't cope with the move very well and turned up their fins. But Bob was indestructable. I almost killed him twice through keeping him a plastic box which, it transpires, was slowly poisoning him in the sunlight. However, I managed to save him and from then on in (for three years) we were inseparable. Until I had The Boy and couldn't face cleaning him out regularly. So he and Betty, her with the deformed mouth, were dispatched to a good home.

I've waffled on about pets when I wasn't going to.

We've had a summer of animals!

This last weekend, we have been up to Manchester with the initial purpose of seeing Mr. Fletcher at MediaCity, but ending up socialising instead. On Saturday we went to Blue Planet Aquarium, Chester with MammyWoo, AddyWoo and the Irish One. I've long wanted to take The Boy to an aquarium to show him fish, this is a really good one as it has an aqua tunnel which is 70 metres long and takes you into the world of sharks, rays and stunning tropical fish.

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Earlier in the summer, we had another tweet-up with some other fabulous bloggers (Wendy and family from Inside the Wendy House, and Helen and family from The Crazy Kitchen). Here we joined the traffic jam which is normally synonymous with Birmingham, but this time relocated to West Midlands Safari Park. As amazing as it is, two and half hours driving around a load of Safari animals who are mostly asleep in the trees is a tad frustrating. That was until we came to my favourite animal of all time. I'm not saying anything else on the subject…

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Exploring Science!

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Today we met up with an old school friend of mine and her little girl who is two months older than The Boy. She had some Tesco Days Out vouchers which we used to gain free entrance into Techniquest, a science exploration centre in Cardiff Bay. I've been there many times over the years, either with nieces and nephews or taking a class there. This is the first time, I've taken The Boy on a dedicated trip just for him.

And he loved it!

Techniquest is a hands-on centre with dedicated exhibits exploring all aspects of Science. My personal favourites are the marble-run (massive display with different sized marbles and different routes), the water play, the shadow room, the walk-on piano (like in 'Big') and the headless table! If you are ever down in the south Wales area, then it is well worth a visit as your little ones could happily kill several hours there. Just take a spare change of clothes for the water-play area!

I think he's now the age where he wants to figure things out and fully explore them. He was therefore really able to enjoy the hands-on approach to the different aspects of Science that Techniquest promote. Mr. TheBoyandMe is going to be really chuffed that he enjoyed it there, as he has been desperate to go with him many times, but The Boy hasn't got it before now. We spent a really enjoyable couple of hours there, until our stomachs over-ruled our quench for play, and we headed off to Pizza Express.

It's Party Time!

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It never fails to amaze me the absolute tat that people put into their child's party bags. I know, it's appalling isn't it? I am a party bag snob.

Ok perspective here: a friend's son's 1st birthday party bags contained Refresher chewy lollies, sherbet sweets, balloons and those little army men thingies. For one year olds. ONE! Another bag from another friend contained more appropriate items (he was three) including a foam pirate hat, a little spy-glass and a packet of buttons.

Now don't get me wrong, I know party bags are a relatively new commodity. When I was a child, we were sent off with a slice of cake. Nowadays, they are expensive business and it is difficult to spend less than £1.50 or £2.00 on each bag, and if you want to put anything other than plastic cracker fillings in it, then you're struggling. I was a few months ago when I was trying to do The Boy's 2nd birthday party bags.

Which is why you should investigate The Enchanted Party Shop.

They sell the whole caboodle: the bags (including nice fabric, resuable ones), party hats, balloons, toys, games, sweets and chocolates. All perfect for filling your child's party bags with age appropriate and quality goods at prices that won't have your purse weeping.

We were sent a boy's party bag as an example of the types of goods that are sold:

I was thoroughly impressed with this bag (which was assembled for the purpose of this review) and the quality of the items included.

  • yellow, wooden ladybird yo-yo = 89p
  • blue, wooden watch is elasticated for easing wearing and has moving hands = £1.40
  • multi-coloured wooden tamtam = £1.00
  • animal stickers = 80p
  • blue raspberry rock = 50p
  • swirly lollipop = 52p
  • pirate ring = 60p

Obviously the quantity of items sent were to highlight the range. In The Boy's party bags I tend to include a decent toy, a little chocolate, a slice of cake, maybe a hat or a blower or something, and I try very hard not to spend more thatn £2.00 a bag. Clearly the amazing range that The Enchanted Party Shop stock allows for this to be possible, and find quality items to suit your theme, age of child and budget. When I was browsing around the store, I also came across these items which I really liked:

  • wooden animal clappers = £1.20
  • farm stickers with playsheet = 40p
  • novelty chocolate frogs = 34p
  • wooden spinning tops = 90p
  • wind-up chattering teeth = 25p

I know that I will definitely be visiting The Enchanted Party Shop for The Boy's next birthday, and quite possibly if my toddler group needs goodies for the Hallowe'en or Christmas parties!

We were sent a party bag to review. My opinion, as always, is honest.

Privacy

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I've spent the weekend in Manchester, failing to see Justin Fletcher filming his new CBeebies show. After a horrendous seven hours travelling 190 miles, and missing his MBE-ness by forty minutes, I have learnt several things.

  1. I like people-watching.
  2. The Premier Inn, Trafford Centre West is a fabulous budget hotel. I'd recommend it.
  3. The Trafford Centre is just crazy.
  4. I have met some amazing friends through twitter and blogging.
  5. A rather sage piece of advice that I need to remember more often:

'No one can make you feel inferior without your consent' (Eleanor Roosevelt)

Now, I've recently been asked by someone why I had her on limited profile on Facebook but not another person. That there is why I don't tend to add twitter/blogging people to my 'real' Facebook account. People know I'm a teacher in a small-town and that I like to keep my family's anonymity. If I have added someone as a friend to my 'real' Facebook profile, I do not see why I have to explain that to someone else.

Being told that I've made someone feel really down about themselves is emotional blackmail, and instead of making me change my settings, it's only served to make me angry and want to press delete. I did that about six months ago and had to deal with the fallout from various people's insecurities then.

I've got my own insecurities and issues to deal with, without having to deal with someone else's. I'm the type of person who spends too much time worrying what other people think of me, I always have. I would never do anything to hurt anyone intentionally, and think that if people just had a few more kind words or a smile to share with people on a daily basis, then the world would be a far happier place.

However, I don't owe anybody a Facebook friendship. My work colleagues and immediate family are on there. There's photos of my brothers and sisters, mum and dad, my husband, my child and me on there. I try not to let the worlds merge too much because I like to remain, as HimUpNorth once called me, The Stig of blogging. There are some people who I have added, there are some I haven't. Deal with it.

This is my life, if I wanted everyone to know who I was, then I wouldn't have a pseudonym would I?

Plenty Of Calm, But No Storm.

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Since The Boy has turned two, I've realised that life is hurtling along in a voyage of transition! This summer I set myself six tasks: I've done one of them. However it is the most important one of the lot and we've pretty much achieved it. Potty-training.

Last week, we went to the cinema and my mum babysat The Boy. Coming home, I discovered that she'd had a hell of a time getting him to sleep, so this is the next thing that needs to change. At present his bedtime routine is good: no television from 5pm onwards, quiet play for half an hour before bed, bath (every other night), milk, brush teeth, potty, pyjamas, book, then mobile on and lights out. It's what happens when lights out is the problem. We've always cuddled him to sleep, and for me he goes quickly. However, for hubby it can be more than an hour of fussing, as it was for my mum last week.

Now clearly, at the age of 26 months this has to stop. Therefore when I was contacted and asked if I'd like to review a new bedtime CD ofclassical bedtime music I was more than happy to type the words "yes please" as quickly as my three typing fingers would allow. (Yes, I have all 8 fingers and 2 thumbs, but can only type with three of them!)

Mixed Blessings is a relaxing and magical CD full of specially written piano compositions. The very talented Sheena Coote created these classical musical pieces to help her own children relax into slumber, unwinding from their day and helping them slip away on the cloud of sleep. The CD is 25 minutes long and contains delicate and soothing music enabling calm and pleasant thoughts.

I'd already bought a CD player for The Boy's room, as it has always been my intention to have him listen to soothing music or a story tape, either before bed or as he is falling asleep. He loves his mobile, but we've found that he's developed almost a Pavlovian response to 'Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star'! We've added Mixed Blessings into the bedtime routine, he listens to it when he is having his milk now, and he's very fond of the music, particularly tracks 4 and 10. Mr. TheBoyandMe has found that he is calmer to get to sleep now, and understand that he must be quiet and listen to the music.

We've had a fraught few weeks: holidays, overnight trips away combined with days out, potty training and another weekend away. Now that we are home for the forseeable future, and that The Boy is secure and comfortable with his potty training, I will be looking at adjusting the order of his bedtime routine so he isn't reliant on cuddles from mummy or daddy to help him get to sleep.

Mixed Blessings was released by Red Red Admiral Records and is available now from, iTunes, Amazon, Tesco online, emusic and we7. One thing is for certain, £6.99 of 79p a track is hardly going to break the bank, and what price can you put on a quiet and quick bedtime?

I was provided with a copy of Mixed Blessings for review. My thoughts and opinions are, as always, honest.

People Watching

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This weekend we travelled up to Manchester for various reason (that's a whole other blog-post!) and stayed in the rather lovely Premier Inn Trafford Centre West. When Mr. TheBoyandMe was putting The Boy to bed last night, I went down to the hotel lobby with my laptop and bought a drink. I then sat people watching, and this is the result.

21:30 I am sat in the hotel lobby while hubby puts The Boy to bed. People watching. There may be some random tweets that follow. More than normal.

21:31 The most 'manicured to within an inch of her life' woman has just teetered past me in orange 4-inch high heels. They matched her tan.

21:32 Her hair had not a strand out of place; evey highlight and lowlight knew where it should be, her false eyelashes needed a suspension bridge.

21:33 and Jesus Christ the hemline of her LBD almost covered her arse. It was a good St. Tropez.

21:35 Woman who came in this time last night has just sauntered back in with her filofax & laptop. I reckon she's head office.

21:36 (to someone who demanded a twitpic of the LBD's hemline) perv'. She's gone now, her and her orange heels and tan.

21:36 She's gone. I suspect her 'ride' had arrived 😉

21:37 And the 9yr old (?) boy who was hanging around last night is here again. Is that his mum or sister on reception?

21:38 Although not sure about the parentage of this boy. He seems to belong to the hotel, like a dog. Everyone knows him.

21:38 Now, is she Spanish or French?

21:41 She really shouldn't be wearing those tight salmon pink cropped yoga pants.

21:43 Two hippos wrestling!

21:44 Receptionist looks like she's seen a ghost. Foundation too pale, hair dye too dark, eyebrows too plucked & ponytail too tight.

21:45 Love seeing everyone struggling with the slow-moving revolving doors when they're an automatic door right next to it.

21:47 Two deaf people ordering at the bar. Barman not speaking at all. They look most amused at his signs. Pretty sure they can lipread mate.

21:49 Mate, you should not be wearing that bright green, silver sequinned top. Definitely not.

21:50 Who is this hotel boy? He's people watching as much as me, but the beauty of him being a kid is he asks people the questions I'm thinking!

21:51 Oh an Italian barman, but naff accent like Gino d'Acampo. Someone's ordered champagne.

21:53 Are they Spanish? Hmm. Dressed in puffa jackets in August? Definitely Mediterranean…

21:54 Ooooh someone's just brought in a Pizza Hut take out! Is he allowed?

21:55 Who is he? (http://yfrog.com/h811kcmj)

21:56 My word, that hair (http://yfrog.com/hwpt4j)

21:56 'Love Lipsy'? You also love peroxide and hairspray love

21:58 And tell your mum her bum's too big for those leggings #bitchytweet

21:58 I aim to offer a light entertainment alternative to the X Factor.

22:01 An 8yr old girl has just walked past pushing a pushchair and texting pn her crystal studded mobile phone. Where's her childhood gone?

22:02 OMG OMG! She's wearing tummy flattening pants under her salmon pink dress. I can see the waistband and bulge above. She's didn't need them.

22:04 I know. Although people keep looking at me oddly because I'm laughing at the laptop!

22:05 She's definitely his mum. Just handed him a drink of water (no, you're not having coke!).

22:19 Aha, now American accent when speaking English but Mediterranean looking? Aha, that would be Hebrew! They're Israeli. And ginger…

22:20 The receptionis has changed her top to a black one. Think that means she's on the bar now

22:21 Also, she's just shown him where Norway is on the computer screen.

22:21 These two blokes want to get into Manchester & can't understand why they can't get a taxi. #gaypride

22:21 I'll have those bhajiis if no-one wants to claim them

22:22 And I'm sure he was wearing a black shirt earlier, but now he's wearing purple and on reception. How random.

22:25 The bar is ever so busy. I'm wearing black, maybe I should go and help out?

22:26 Oooh now, he's got a purple shirt on but gone back to the bar! No no, you need to be wearing black to be on the bar

22:26 Now that's confused me. He's just called her Scarlet, obviously not his mum

22:27 Some bugger has left the automatic door open & now I'm cold

22:32 The nice lady who smiled at me came down for a drink with her daughter & was looking for a seat. Surrendered my place for her so am in room.

22:33 and now she's on reception again. All wrong!

22:34 I miss the lobby. Sod an early night, I might go back down in a moment. I miss the man in the green sequinned t-shirt.

22:37 When I go home, I may just go and find my nearest Premier Inn lobby and live there every Saturday night.

I know it's a load of old piffle, but there's now't so queer as folk!

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